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The 2030 FIFA World Cup will be held in six countries, with the opening match in South America before the competition moves on to host countries in Europe and Africa.
This special edition will allow FIFA to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the tournament with centenary games in Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay.
Here’s what you need to know about the next race:
When is the next FIFA World Cup?
The next FIFA World Cup will be held in 2030.
According to FIFA’s plan, the centenary matches will be held in Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay on June 8 and 9, followed by the opening matches in Morocco, Portugal and Spain on June 13 and 14.
The World Cup final is expected to be played on July 21, although FIFA has yet to confirm the full schedule of matches.
Where will the 2030 World Cup be held?
Spain, Portugal and Morocco will host most of the games. To commemorate the tournament’s 100th anniversary, Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay will each play the opening games before moving to three host countries.
According to FIFA, Uruguay will have a game to recognize that they started the first World Cup in 1930, while Argentina’s game will recognize their position as the finalists of the tournament. Paraguay will also host games as the home of CONMEBOL, the only international football association in existence at the time.
The tournament will be the first men’s World Cup to be held in six countries and three continents.
Which countries are already eligible?
Six countries have already secured their place at the 2030 FIFA World Cup through the official host process. They are Spain, Portugal and Morocco, the three main teams of the competition, as well as Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay.
The remaining 42 places will be decided through next years FIFA continental competitions.
What do we know about the schedule?
The teams taking part in the three games in South America have been given more time to travel, rest and prepare before their next games.
After the centenary on June 8 and 9, the opening ceremony and the first matches in Morocco, Portugal and Spain are expected to take place on June 13 and 14.
The remaining teams in the group consisting of Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay will start their campaign on June 15 and 16. The second round of matches in these groups is scheduled to take place on June 21 and 22.
FIFA has not released the full calendar yet.
Can the tournament expand to 64 teams?
The 2030 FIFA World Cup will currently feature 48 teams, the same format that first appeared in the 2026 tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
However, FIFA President Gianni Infantino said The governing body will consider proposals to expand the tournament to 64 teams.
Speaking to the Swiss news agency Bluewin, Infantino described the appearance of 48 teams as “a great success”, saying that it gave many countries the opportunity to compete at the highest level and helped to expand the sport around the world.
He also spoke about the actions of small football nations at the 2026 World Cup, saying that greater participation would benefit the game. When asked if the tournament could grow to 64 teams, Infantino said the idea “will be analyzed and discussed”.
What else do we know about the history of the FIFA World Cup?
The FIFA World Cup was created after the success of men’s football at the 1924 and 1928 Olympics, both won by Uruguay. At that time, the Olympic Games were organized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), leading FIFA to create its own national team competition.
According to FIFA, the 1924 Olympic final in Paris drew a crowd of around 50,000 as Uruguay beat Switzerland 3-0 to win the gold medal. Four years later, Uruguay defended its title by defeating Argentina 2-1, helping FIFA to win the FIFA World Cup.
In May 1928, FIFA approved plans to open the World Cup and chose Uruguay as the host. The country had also won two Olympic titles and was celebrating its 100th anniversary of independence in 1930.
The first World Cup was held in July 1930, with 13 teams competing. Several European countries traveled to Uruguay by sea, and the hosts defeated Argentina 4-2 in the final at the Estadio Centenario in Montevideo to become the first men’s world champions.
The tournament has grown significantly since then, from 13 teams in 1930 to 32 in 1998 and 48 in 2026. The 2030 edition will mark 100 years since the World Cup was founded and will be the first men’s tournament to be played in six countries and three continents.
What happens after the 2030 World Cup?
The next FIFA World Cup for men will be held in 2034 and will be hosted by Saudi Arabia.
FIFA confirmed that Saudi Arabia will host the tournament in December 2024 after becoming the sole bidder.
Unlike the 2030 games, which will be played in six countries and three continents, the 2034 World Cup will be organized by one host nation. FIFA has not announced the match dates or the schedule of matches.
