The 2030 FIFA World Cup will unfold across three host nations spanning Europe and North Africa, led by Spain, Portugal, and Morocco. Yet the opening matches will pay homage to football’s origins by taking place in Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay. This nod to CONMEBOL and the 1930 World Cup in Montevideo anchors the Centennial edition in its birthplace while expanding the event beyond familiar borders.
On October 4, 2023, FIFA announced that the Spain–Portugal–Morocco bid would spearhead the 2030 edition. The early fixtures, however, will stay anchored in Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay to honor the event’s origins and the 1930 kickoff in Montevideo, a reminder of football’s long journey since that inaugural moment, as reported by outlets including Goal [Citation: Goal].
In recent FIFA Council discussions, the body indicated that the Spanish-led bid would stand as the sole candidate to host the 2030 World Cup. The plan moves forward to the FIFA Congress, the body charged with ratifying the council’s recommendation. An extraordinary congress was planned for December 2024. Spain is poised to host a World Cup once again, marking a 48-year gap since its last hosting duty in 1982, according to federation statements and contemporary coverage [Citation: federation communications].
Earlier on October 4, 2023, CONMEBOL President Alejandro Domínguez announced through social channels that the tournament would begin in Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay, reinforcing the centennial link to the 1930 kickoff. The message, shared with supportive commentary from officials and media partners, underscored the belief in a bold, historic start for the 2030 edition. The sentiment was echoed by outlets citing the bid’s centennial vision and the symbolic restart in the same South American trio that opened the very first World Cup [Citation: media partners].
Later, FIFA confirmed that Spain, Morocco, and Portugal would serve as the host nations, with federation communications noting that the joint bid remains the sole candidate to stage the 2030 FIFA World Cup, as reported by Goal and related outlets [Citation: Goal].
Robert Harrison, President of the Paraguayan Football Association, affirmed that Paraguay is qualified for the 2030 World Cup and that the event will be hosted by Spain, Portugal, and Morocco. A related update from Javier Lanza reinforced the same message with visual confirmation, as noted by Goal [Citation: Goal].
It is worth noting that last spring Spain and Portugal began outlining a path toward the 2030 edition, with Morocco joining the bid. The Spanish Football Federation later issued a statement confirming Morocco’s addition to the joint effort to host the intercontinental tournament, according to Goal [Citation: Goal].
Venues, stadiums and cities
Weeks earlier, the Spanish Football Federation revealed candidate venues for the 2030 World Cup. The plan calls for 15 venues spread across 13 cities. Madrid and Barcelona stand out as the only cities with two candidate venues each, featuring the Santiago Bernabéu and the Metropolitano in Madrid, and the RCDE Stadium and the Camp Nou in Barcelona. The Nueva Condomina in Murcia was identified as a headquarters site. The New Mestalla is also included, with work resuming after a pause but without a confirmed opening date yet, according to federation disclosures and subsequent coverage.
Notable omissions drew attention as well. The Benito Villamarín and the Sánchez-Pizjuán were not among the chosen venues despite their large capacities. The Martínez-Valero in Elche also missed out, despite frequent use for international fixtures due to capacity and comfort. In Asturias, El Molinón has been added, while Carlos Tartiere was not included despite a similar capacity. These selections reflect a balance between tradition, infrastructure, and long‑term sustainability for host cities, as summarized by coverage from Goal and related analyses.
The envisioned layout suggests a blend of iconic stadiums and modern arenas designed to sustain large crowds, offer world‑class facilities, and support the legacy plans tied to hosting duties. The prospective timetable, transportation links, and hospitality infrastructure are all weighed to deliver a smooth, high‑quality experience for players and fans alike, according to ongoing planning discussions and industry analyses.
In summary, the bid framework points to Spain, Portugal, and Morocco as the host trio, with Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay serving as ceremonial launch sites for a centennial celebration rooted in a historic kickoff. The final decision rests with the FIFA Congress after council recommendations, as the world anticipates a landmark tournament that honors origins while embracing a broader multi‑regional future, per official communications and subsequent reporting.