• Saudi Arabia will host the men’s soccer World Cup in 2034, while the 2030 edition will be held in Spain, Portugal and Morocco, with one-off matches in three South American countries.

• The decision was announced by FIFA President Gianni Infantino following a virtual extraordinary Congress. All 211 FIFA Member Associations convened virtually at the Extraordinary FIFA Congress.

• The 2030 and 2034 World Cups each had only a single bid and both were confirmed by acclamation.

• The next World Cup in 2026 — the first involving 48 teams — will take place across North America.

• Brazil will host the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2027.

• The appointment by acclamation of the hosts of the 2030 and 2034 editions of the FIFA World Cup concludes a thorough bidding process initiated in October 2023 following the unanimous proposal made by the FIFA Council and supported by all confederations, with a view to providing harmony and rotation between the confederations in relation to the hosting cycle for the tournament.

2030 World Cup to take place across three continents

• The unprecedented organisation of the 2030 tournament will involve three continental confederations in Europe, Africa and South America.

• The combined proposal from Morocco, Spain and Portugal will see the 2030 World Cup take place across three continents and six nations, with Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay hosting celebratory games to mark the tournament’s centenary.

• The 2030 tournament will mark a century since the first World Cup was held in Uruguay, and as a result the unrivalled joint bid by Morocco, Spain and Portugal will also see the South American nation handed one game along with Argentina and Paraguay.

• Uruguay held the first World Cup in 1930, while Argentina and Spain have also staged the tournament. 

• Spain, which hosted the 1982 World Cup, should be the main host in 2030 as it boasts 11 of the 20 proposed stadiums.

• Portugal, Paraguay and Morocco will all be first-time hosts.

• The 2030 World Cup will have 48 teams and 104 matches. 

Saudi Arabia will host the 2034 World Cup

• Saudi Arabia will become the second nation from the Middle East to host the quadrennial tournament in 2034, 12 years after neighbours Qatar staged the 2022 edition.

• FIFA had invoked its principle of rotating the World Cup between continents, which meant only bids from Asia or Oceania were welcome for 2034.

• Australia and Indonesia had also been in talks over a joint bid, but dropped out.

What is FIFA?

• Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) exists to govern football and to develop the game around the world. 

• FIFA was founded in Paris on May 21, 1904, with a view to organising the world’s most popular sport. The foundation act was signed by representatives from France, Belgium, Denmark, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.

• With 211 affiliated associations, FIFA supports them financially and logistically through various programmes. As representatives of FIFA in their countries, they have obligations to respect the statutes, aims and ideals of football's governing body and promote and manage our sport accordingly.

• The FIFA Council is the main decision making body of the organisation in the intervals of FIFA Congress.

• The final composition of the FIFA Council consists of 37 members: one president, elected by the FIFA Congress; eight vice presidents, and 28 other members elected by the member associations – each for a term of four years. 

• A minimum of one female representative must be elected per confederation. 

• The president and the members of the Council may serve for no more than three terms of office (whether consecutive or not).

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