FIFA Confirms Morocco as a 2030 World Cup Co-Host

Morocco will have a World Cup hosting dress rehearsal by hosting the next African Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament between December 2025 and January 2026.

President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Dr. Patrice Motsepe has congratulated Morocco for securing their bid as co-hosts for the 2030 World, saying that the partnership with Spain and Morocco “unites Africa and Europe through football and inspires all of us to work together and make the world a better place.”

It echoes FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s remarks on football as a uniting global force. “The FIFA World Cup is unique, and it is a unique catalyst as well for positive social change and unity because these tournaments, 2030, the celebration, 2034 – they are tournaments to unite, not to divide.”

Also confirmed is the centennial celebration of 100 years of the World Cup, with the first three matches of the tournament taking place in Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay to commemorate the tournament's 100th anniversary. The FIFA Council also confirmed Saudi Arabia as the host country of the 2034 World Cup, keeping football’s biggest tournament in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.

“Seven countries have won their World Cup today,” Infantino said. “Congratulations to Uruguay, Argentina, Paraguay, Morocco, Portugal, Spain and Saudi Arabia. This is your day.”

This groundbreaking decision paves the way for the World Cup to span across six different countries on three different continents. The city of Montevideo in Uruguay, which hosted the inaugural World Cup finals match in 1930, is poised to host the tournament's opening match less than six years from now, with additional matches to be held in Argentina and Paraguay.

FIFA initially conveyed its unanimous decision in October 2023, stating, "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. 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 the country’s capital, Montevideo, as well as three World Cup matches in Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay, respectively."

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia has officially expressed its intention to bid for the privilege of hosting the 2034 FIFA World Cup, as reported by the state news agency SPA on Wednesday. In a statement from the Saudi Arabian Football Federation, the bid is described as one that, "intends to deliver a world-class tournament and will draw inspiration from Saudi Arabia’s ongoing social and economic transformation and the country’s deep-rooted passion for football."

FIFA also clarified that bids for the 2034 World Cup will be limited to countries within Asia and Oceania, in light of the decision to award the 2026 tournament to Canada, Mexico and the United States — a historic event that will include men's teams from 48 different countries for the first time. Among the potential contenders, Australia, which jointly hosted the recent women's World Cup with New Zealand, stands as another likely candidate.

Morocco's selection as a co-host makes it the second African nation to host a World Cup, following South Africa's successful hosting of the 2010 edition. Notably, Argentina previously hosted the tournament in 1978, while Spain had the honor of hosting in 1982. Portugal and Paraguay will join Morocco in hosting World Cup matches for the first time, although all three countries have previously organized continental championships.