According to FIFA's plan, the main hosts of the 2030 World Cup are Spain, Portugal, and Morocco. However, as part of the centenary celebrations, the opening three matches will be held in South America: Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay. After that, the rest of the tournament matches will take place in the three host countries in Europe and Africa.
Football
Where will the 2030 World Cup be held, and which 6 countries will play directly?
The first FIFA World Cup was held in Montevideo, Uruguay, in 1930. To commemorate that historic event, the opening match will be held in Uruguay. Additionally, one match each will be hosted in Argentina, the runner-up of the first World Cup, and Paraguay, which houses the headquarters of the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL).
Along with Spain, Portugal, and Morocco as host nations, Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay, the hosts of the opening matches, will also get the opportunity to play directly in the main tournament. That is, a total of 6 countries will participate in the 2030 World Cup without any qualifiers.
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Like in 2026, the 2030 World Cup will also feature 48 teams. Therefore, excluding the six host countries, the remaining 42 spots will be determined through various continental qualifiers.
FIFA has already approved plans for 23 potential stadiums. These include Spain's Camp Nou and Santiago Bernabéu, Portugal's Estádio da Luz, Morocco's Hassan II Stadium, Argentina's Estadio Monumental, and Uruguay's historic Estadio Centenario.
FIFA believes that this continent-spanning event, designed to make the World Cup's centenary memorable, will mark the beginning of a new chapter in football history.