The 2030 FIFA World Cup will be jointly hosted by Spain, Portugal, and Morocco, with initial matches in Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay. Spain will host the majority of the games, while Morocco aims to establish itself as a significant player in world football. Separately, Saudi Arabia has been awarded the 2034 World Cup, facing criticism over its human rights record and logistical challenges due to summer temperatures. Advocates warn that without reforms, the tournament could lead to exploitation.
Joint Hosting of the 2030 World Cup
It’s official: the 2030 FIFA World Cup will be co-hosted by Spain, Portugal, and Morocco. In a groundbreaking announcement made this Wednesday, FIFA revealed that the tournament will kick off with three matches hosted in South America, specifically Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay. This innovative three-continent setup arises after several bids were withdrawn, leaving this unique collaboration as the sole candidate.
Marking the ‘Centenary World Cup,’ this event will bring together six nations for the first time since the inaugural World Cup in 1930, which featured just 13 teams in Montevideo. The 2022 World Cup saw 32 teams competing, while the 2026 tournament will expand to include 48 teams. Following the initial matches on June 8 and 9, 2030, the remaining 101 matches will take place from June 13 to July 21 across the host countries.
Spain is set to be the primary host, offering 11 of the proposed 20 stadiums, building on its history of hosting the World Cup in 1982. Meanwhile, Morocco, which has previously attempted to host the tournament five times without success, will become the second African nation to take on this challenge, following South Africa in 2010. The battle for the opening match and the final is currently between Spain, with the Santiago-Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid and Camp Nou in Barcelona, and Morocco, which proposes the future Hassan-II Stadium aimed at becoming the largest stadium globally, accommodating 115,000 spectators. Portugal is also in the mix, presenting two stadiums in Lisbon and one in Porto, aiming for a semi-final spot.
Controversy Surrounding the 2034 World Cup in Saudi Arabia
In a separate decision, FIFA Congress has awarded the 2034 World Cup to Saudi Arabia. During a virtual meeting on the same day, delegates from 211 member federations endorsed the Saudi bid, which was the only one left after a streamlined selection process focused on Asian and Oceanian submissions for geographical rotation.
The Kingdom’s ambitions to enhance its global image and diversify its economy are evident, although it currently possesses only two of the required 14 stadiums with a minimum capacity of 40,000. Additionally, the extreme summer temperatures may force a shift of the tournament to winter or late autumn, similar to the adjustments made for the 2022 Qatar World Cup, taking into account the overlap with Ramadan, anticipated in December.
Despite Saudi Arabia’s increasing influence in global sports, it faces significant backlash regarding its human rights record. NGOs and advocates have voiced their concerns, stating that awarding the 2034 World Cup to Saudi Arabia “puts lives at risk and undermines FIFA’s human rights commitments.” In a joint statement, organizations including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch criticized the FIFA Congress for disregarding their warnings.
Since the announcement of the Saudi bid in 2023, these organizations have raised alarms about potential dangers for local residents, migrant workers, and international fans. They emphasize that without urgent reforms, the 2034 World Cup could be tainted by repression and exploitation. FIFA acknowledges that the Kingdom will need to make substantial efforts to meet human rights commitments by 2034, yet remains optimistic that the event could act as a catalyst for necessary reforms.