Spain to host 2030 FIFA World Cup live updates: Host nations, opening games, stadiums

Who will host the 2034 World Cup?

The big news from today has been the announcement that the 2030 World Cup will be held across three continents, with Spain, Portugal and Morocco hosting the majority of the tournament's fixtures. However more big news from the world of FIFA today has given a hint as to the destination of the 2034 competition. 

In an announcement FIFA called on "FIFA member associations from the territories of the AFC and the OFC" to bid to host the tournament. Saudi Arabia, long-assumed to be the likely host nation for 2034, immediately confirmed that they will bid for the opportunity. 

First ever three-continent World Cup

Emissions and jet lag

It's a fair point, however.

Is it coming home?

I'm not sure they understand what that statement means...

Alexi Lalas tweets

The question on everybody's lips is Why?

Why set up the World Cup in this way? Many people are saying that it is perhaps a ploy to distract public attention from the fact that Saudi Arabia is the frontrunner for the 2034 World Cup.

What do you think?

A little too excited

ESPN FC has let their excitement get away from them a little here. If Ronaldo were to play in the 2030 World Cup, he would be 46 years old. Messi would be 44.

I get it. You are excited. But please, have some decorum. Nobody wants to see zimmer frames at midfield.

Surely the biggest winners from this decision will be Morocco and Paraguay. While the other four nations are perennial World Cup participants, it is far from a certainty that either of those two nations would qualify. Now, however, with the news that all host nations will get automatic qualification, they are assured a spot in the games.

Gianni Infantino as Oprah Winfrey

It is such a bizarre decision by FIFA to let the 2030 World Cup be played across two continents. Only the joint Spain-Portugal-Morocco and Uruguay-Paraguay-Argentina bids were still on the table.

And rather than choose a bid, they just gave it to everybody.

Gianni Infantino must be an Oprah fan. "You get the World Cup and you get the World Cup and you get the World Cup. Everybody gets the World Cup!"

Which cities and stadiums in Morocco will host 2030 World Cup games?

A number of options appear to be on the table in Morocco, with Rabat, Casablanca, Tanger, Agadir, Marrakech and Fez in contention to host games. 

The Grand Stade de Casablanca, due to be completed in 2025, will have a capacity of 93,000 and will be the centrepiece of Morocco's side of the bid. 

Which cities and stadiums in Portugal will host 2030 World Cup games?

Barcelona are currently in Porto for a UEFA Champions League group game at Estádio do Dragão, which is expected to be one of three venues used in Portugal. 

The other two will both be in Lisbon, namely Estádio da Luz and Estádio José Alvalade, home to Benfica and Sporting Clube de Portugal respectively. 

REAL MADRID

Work is still ongoing at the Bernabéu: when will Real Madrid’s stadium be finished?

Speaking of Real Madrid's Estadio Santiago Bernabéu, is feels as it renovation work has been going on there forever.

Here's a little update on how it's going from Sergio and Joe (we think they'll be done by June 2030...). 

Which Spanish cities and stadiums will host the 2030 World Cup?

With almost seven years to go until the tournament is played, nothing has been officially decided as yet. However, the Spanish Soccer Federation is running the rule over 15 stadiums and will now be able to speed up that process in the knowledge that they will indeed be hosting the World Cup. 

The 15 are:

- Balaídos (Vigo)

- El Molinón (Gijón)

- Riazor (A Coruña)

- San Mamés (Bilbao)

- Anoeta (San Sebastián)

- La Romareda (Zaragoza)

- Camp Nou (Barcelona)

- RCDE Stadium (Cornellà-El Prat)

- Santiago Bernabéu (Madrid)

- Metropolitano (Madrid)

- Nuevo Mestalla (Valencia)

- Nueva Condomina (Murcia)

- La Cartuja (Seville)

- La Rosaleda (Málaga)

- Gran Canaria (Las Palmas de Gran Canaria)

When will the 2030 FIFA World Cup be played?

There's probably no need to book your vacation just yet but we do have a rough idea of when the tournament will be played. The final is expected to be played on eithe 14 of 21 July 2030, which means the big kick-off (in Montevideo, remember) should be some time in the middle of June. We'll keep you posted long before then...

Will Lionel Scaloni still be in charge of Argentina by then? 

2030 WORLD CUP

Will all six host nations qualify automatically for the 2030 World Cup?

One of the phrases that may have grabbed you from that statement from the FIFA Council is the mention of the THREE host nations qualifying automatically for the finals. That's Spain, Portugal and Morocco in case you're still confused. 

What about poor old Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay?

My esteemed colleague Will has investigated. 

FIFA Council statement on 2030 World Cup host

You've probably had enough Infantino for now, so here's a nice little summary of what the deal is going to be from FIFA themselves. 

"The FIFA Council unanimously agreed that the sole candidacy will be the combined bid of Morocco, Portugal, and Spain, which will host the event in 2030 and qualify automatically from the existing slot allocation subject to the completion of a successful bidding process conducted by FIFA and a decision by the FIFA Congress in 2024. Additionally, having taken into account the historical context of the first-ever FIFA World Cup, the FIFA Council further unanimously agreed to host a unique centenary celebration ceremony in Uruguay's capital, Montevideo, where the first ever FIFA World Cup took place in 1930, as well as three World Cup matches in Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay respectively."

Right, glad we've cleared that up!

FIFA president Infantino: Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay to host one match each

Want some more Gianni Infantino? Of course you do, who wouldn't...?

“The FIFA Council, representing the entire world of football, also unanimously agreed to celebrate the centenary of the FIFA World Cup, whose first edition was played in Uruguay in 1930, in the most appropriate way. As a result, a celebration will take place in South America and three South American countries - Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay - will organise one match each of the FIFA World Cup 2030. The first of these three matches will of course be played at the stadium where it all began, in Montevideo’s mythical Estádio Centenário, precisely to celebrate the centenary edition of the FIFA World Cup.”

Ah, right, this is starting to make sense now (if still a bit mad...). 

FIFA President Gianni Infantino: Morocco, Portugal and Spain "the only bid"

To muddy the waters further, FIFA President Gianni Infantino has spoken...

"The FIFA Council agreed unanimously that the only bid to host the FIFA World Cup 2030 will be the joint bid of Morocco, Portugal and Spain. Two continents - Africa and Europe - united not only in a celebration of football but also in providing unique social and cultural cohesion. What a great message of peace, tolerance and inclusion."

What's going on with Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay, then?!

Six countries to host 2030 FIFA World Cup matches

Well, this post from FIFA Media is a bit misleading, isn't it? I thought there were going six hosts, not only three? There are, and we'll dig into how it's going to work in just a moment.

But the bottom line is that there will indeed be games played in six different countries at the 2030 World Cup:

  Spain

  Portugal

  Morocco

  Argentina

  Uruguay

  Paraguay

2030 World Cup to be the first to be held on more than one continent

Remember the days when the FIFA World Cup was played in just one country (Italia '90, USA '94, France '98, Qatar '22...). Well, those now look to be long gone. 

The 2026 tournament will, of course, be held in the USA, Mexico and Canada, a tournament which will have 48 teams for the first time ever. But the following edition, in 2030, will be played across THREE continents and in SIX different countries...!

What is this madness? Let's take a closer look. 

Spain among six countries to host 2030 World Cup!

Hello ladies and gentleman, boys and girls. We have a brand new World Cup host (well, six of them, in fact) and a shiny new live blog to go along with them!

For the first time since 1982, World Cup soccer will be played in Spain in 2030, but they're not going to be going it alone.

Faaaaaar from it!