The 2030 World Cup will mark a before and after in the history of football. For the first time, the tournament will be held in six countries and three continents, a decision made by FIFA to combine the traditional organization of the championship with the commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the first edition of the World Cup, held in 1930.
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The tournament will have as main hosts Spain, Morocco, and Portugal, where 101 matches will be played. However, the tournament will start a few days earlier with three special matches in Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay, countries chosen to celebrate the centenary of the World Cup.
According to FIFA, the entity’s Council approved the joint candidacy of Spain, Morocco, and Portugal through a single candidacy process. Subsequently, the organization’s extraordinary Congress, held on December 11, 2024, officially confirmed these three countries as hosts of the competition and ratified the holding of three commemorative matches in South America.
The proposal was developed after consultations with the African Football Confederation (CAF), the South American Football Confederation (Conmebol), and the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), which jointly supported the project.
Why will the World Cup be in six countries?
The main reason why the World Cup will be held in six countries is due to the centenary of the championship. According to FIFA, the year 2030 represents a symbolic milestone because it marks 100 years since the first World Cup was held in Uruguay in 1930.
Therefore, the Council approved an exceptional celebration in South America that will include three official matches of the tournament. The main match of this commemoration will be played in Montevideo, where the centenary ceremony will also take place, in recognition that Uruguay was the first host country and also the first world champion.
Argentina will also host one of these matches as a tribute to the team that was runner-up in the inaugural 1930 edition. The third match will be played in Paraguay because the Conmebol headquarters is located there, the only confederation existing when the World Cup was born.
The venues of the 2030 World Cup
The organization distinguishes between the host countries of the tournament and the countries responsible for the celebration matches.
The main hosts will be:
- Spain.
- Morocco.
- Portugal.
In these three countries, practically the entire competition will take place, with a total of 101 matches.
To these three special venues will be added:
- Uruguay.
- Argentina.
- Paraguay.
In these countries, only one official match will be played in each, corresponding to the centenary celebration.
When will the World Cup start?
The schedule planned by FIFA contemplates a staggered start for the 2030 World Cup. The first official activities will be on Saturday, June 8 and Sunday, June 9, 2030, when the centenary ceremony and the matches in Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay will take place.
Subsequently, on Thursday, June 13 and Friday, June 14, the official opening ceremony of the World Cup will take place and the opening match or matches in Spain, Morocco, and Portugal. Between June 15 and 16, the other teams in the groups of Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay will debut.
The second match of those groups is scheduled for June 21 and 22. The tournament final is scheduled for Sunday, July 21, 2030.
As a result of this special organization, six countries will have guaranteed presence in the tournament. Spain, Morocco, and Portugal will obtain automatic qualification as the main hosts.
Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay will also qualify directly as hosts of the centenary celebration matches. FIFA indicated that these spots will be deducted from the places assigned to the respective confederations.
How will the schedule be adapted?
One of the main questions around the tournament was the impact of travel between continents. To solve this, FIFA designed an exceptional schedule.
The six teams playing the matches in South America will have between 11 and 12 days to travel, rest, acclimate, and prepare for their next commitment before returning to the main competition.
The other teams will have approximately five or six days between matches. The organization also clarified that adjustments will be made within the current international calendar, without extending the period of player release to national teams.
Additionally, the same exceptions planned for the 2026 World Cup regarding players participating in continental club competition finals will be maintained.
EDWIN CAICEDO
Environment and Health Journalist
@CaicedoUcros
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