Spain, Portugal, and Morocco to host 2030 World Cup, with South American centenary matches

By Sanjay Menon — 22 July 2026 — 4 min read

The 2030 World Cup is set to be a unique tournament, spanning six countries and three continents. The main hosting duties will be shared by Spain, Portugal, and Morocco, marking the first time Morocco will host the event and Portugal will host any World Cup matches. This multi-continental approach coincides with the 100th anniversary of the tournament, which originally began in South America in 1930.

To commemorate the centenary, the first three matches of the tournament will be held in Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay. Uruguay will host the opening match on June 8, 2030, at the Centenario Stadium in Montevideo. Subsequent games will take place in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Asunción, Paraguay, during the same weekend. These three South American nations, along with the primary hosts, will automatically qualify for the tournament.

Following these initial matches, participating teams and fans will travel approximately 6,000 miles to Europe and North Africa for the group stage games. Organisers have incorporated additional rest days to accommodate this intercontinental travel. The exact date and location for the first match hosted in Europe or North Africa have not yet been confirmed.

Hosting nations and venues

Spain, hosting for the first time since 1982, will stage the majority of the games, with matches planned for Madrid and Barcelona, among other cities. Portugal will host games in Lisbon and Porto. Morocco will become the first North African host and the second country on the African continent to host the World Cup, with matches distributed across six cities, from Tangier to Agadir. Outside Casablanca, in Benslimane, a new 115,000-seat arena, the Grand Stade Hassan II, is under construction and is designed to resemble a traditional Moroccan tent.

The Centenario Stadium in Montevideo, designated by FIFA as a Historical Monument of World Football, will undergo a 30-month overhaul later this year. This renovation will include adding a roof to all stands, except for its tower, and increasing its capacity from 60,235 to 63,000.

The 2030 World Cup will feature 104 matches over approximately six weeks, with the final scheduled for July 21, 2030. The location of the final match is still under discussion, with Madrid’s Santiago Bernabéu, a rebuilt Camp Nou in Barcelona, and Morocco’s Grand Stade Hassan II all vying to host it. FIFA is expected to make an official decision on the final’s venue in December 2026.

Early team prospects

Looking ahead to the tournament, several national teams are considered to have strong foundations for the 2030 World Cup. Spain, as the defending World Cup champion and a co-host, is anticipated to be a strong contender. The team features players like Unai Simón (32), Gavi (25), Pedri (27), and Lamine Yamal (22), who are expected to play significant roles. Other talents such as Dean Huijsen (25) and Cristhian Mosquera (25) could also emerge.

France, with Zinedine Zidane taking over as coach, also presents a formidable squad. Key players include Mike Maignan (34), Dayot Upamecano (31), Aurélien Tchouaméni (30), and Kylian Mbappé (31), supported by Michael Olise (28) and Désiré Doué (24).

England, despite previous tournament disappointments, is seen as well-positioned for future success. Their squad includes players like Marc Guéhi (29), Djed Spence (29), Declan Rice (31), Jude Bellingham (26), and Bukayo Saka (28). However, questions remain regarding the long-term role of Harry Kane (36) and the goalkeeping position.

Morocco, as a co-host and with recent strong performances, is also expected to be a significant force. Their team features players such as Achraf Hakimi (31), Chadi Riad (26), Ayyoub Bouaddi (22), and Ismael Saibari (29). The team also benefits from a recent U-20 World Cup victory, with emerging talents like Othmane Maamma (24) and Yassir Zabiri (25).

Argentina, despite the anticipated absence of Lionel Messi, has players like Julián Álvarez (30), Lautaro Martínez (32), and Enzo Fernández (33) who are expected to lead the team. They also boast talent from their recent U-20 World Cup runner-up squad, including Milton Delgado (24).

Portugal will look to players like goalkeeper Diogo Costa (30), defenders Gonçalo Inácio (28) and Nuno Mendes (27), and attackers Gonçalo Ramos (28) and João Félix (30). Norway, having reached the quarter-finals, will rely on Erling Haaland (29) to lead their attack, supported by players such as Andreas Schjelderup (26) and Martin Ødegaard (31).

Côte d’Ivoire, with the tournament partly returning to Africa, has a talented squad including goalkeeper Yahia Fofana (29) and midfielder Kouadio Koné (29). The 2034 World Cup is set to be hosted by Saudi Arabia.

Source: theguardian.com