The 2030 World Cup is set to be played in Europe, Africa and South America to allow the tournament to start with a 100th birthday party in Uruguay.
A unique 2030 World Cup is set to be played in Europe and Africa with the surprising addition of South America in a deal to allow the men’s soccer tournament to start with a 100th birthday celebration in Uruguay.
FIFA reached an agreement Wednesday between soccer’s continental leaders to accept only one candidate for hosting the 2030 tournament, the sport’s governing body said.
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The Spain-Portugal bid grew to add Morocco this year and now also includes longtime bid rivals Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay.
A key lure of the unprecedented three-continent project will be opening in the Uruguayan capital of Montevideo, where the Centenario Stadium hosted the inaugural 1930 World Cup final.
«The centennial World Cup could not be far from South America, where everything began,» said Alejandro Domínguez, president of South American soccer governing body CONMEBOL. «The 2030 World Cup will be played in three continents.»
The consensus reached by once-rival soccer continents also let FIFA fast-track opening the 2034 World Cup bidding contest Wednesday; the bidding is limited to member federations from Asia and Oceania.
