Spain, Portugal, and Morocco have officially been confirmed as the hosts for the 2030 FIFA World Cup, marking a historic moment in football. The decision was announced during an extraordinary FIFA congress, where Spain’s bid succeeded, securing its position as a World Cup host 48 years after the 1982 tournament. While Spain, Portugal, and Morocco were celebrating their joint win, another major announcement was made, Saudi Arabia has been confirmed as the sole host of the 2034 World Cup.

Spain Returns to the Spotlight

For Spain, this is an exciting return to World Cup hosting duties after almost five decades. The tournament will take place across nine cities in Spain, including Madrid, Barcelona, Sevilla, and Bilbao. While Valencia was initially left out due to construction delays at the Mestalla Stadium, there’s still a chance the city could be included in the future. Portugal will host matches in Lisbon and Porto, and Morocco will have six cities, including Casablanca, Marrakech, and Rabat, participating in the event.

A Global First

What makes this World Cup truly unique is that the tournament will take place on three continents. The opening games will be held in South America on June 9, with Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay hosting one match each to commemorate the centenary of the first World Cup in Uruguay. The tournament will then move to Europe and Africa, with the remaining matches taking place in Spain, Portugal, and Morocco from June 13 or 14. The final is expected to take place on July 21, with Madrid’s Santiago Bernabéu Stadium the frontrunner for the final, although the Camp Nou and the Casablanca Stadium are also in the running.

🥹 Lo sueñan ahora y lo vivirán en 2030.

La ilusión de estos pequeños entregando los certificados de @fifacom_es es la de todo un país feliz de albergar una nueva cita mundialista.

🎁 ¡¡Este Mundial es un regalo de Navidad anticipado!! #YallaVamos2030 pic.twitter.com/81psAR5olC

— RFEF (@rfef) December 11, 2024

Saudi Arabia’s Role in the 2034 World Cup

While Spain and its neighbors celebrate the news for 2030, Saudi Arabia has already locked in its hosting rights for the 2034 World Cup. With no other countries stepping up to bid, Saudi Arabia’s bid was essentially uncontested, and FIFA confirmed the decision during the same congress. Over the past 14 months, Saudi Arabia has made significant strides to position itself as a leader in sports, with FIFA President Gianni Infantino making regular visits to the country, including one to Diriyah’s historic palaces in 2021 during the pandemic.

The Growing Influence of Saudi Arabia

This announcement solidifies Saudi Arabia’s growing influence in global sports. In addition to hosting the 2034 World Cup, the country has been making an impact in other areas of sports, like Esports, where Infantino chose to launch the Esports World Cup in Riyadh this past summer rather than attending FIFA’s own gaming event. Despite some criticism about the transparency of the process, Saudi Arabia’s swift ascent to hosting the World Cup has raised eyebrows, but it also shows their commitment to becoming a key player in the sports world.

What’s Next for Spain?

With the 2030 World Cup now confirmed, Spain, Portugal, and Morocco are gearing up for the long road ahead. The next steps will include finalizing the host cities, many of which are already decided, and preparing for what promises to be a massive event that will bring together fans and players from across the globe. Spain’s return to hosting the World Cup is more than just a football event, it’s an opportunity to boost the economy, create jobs, and solidify the country’s place on the world stage once again.

Main image: X/@rfef