Spain will organize the 2030 World Cup together with Morocco and Portugal, with whom it formed one of the two bids managed by FIFA after the one formed by Paraguay, Uruguay and Argentina has stepped aside in exchange for organizing the three opening matches. Thus, in the absence of official status, the World Cup returns to Spain 48 years after the one held in 1982, although it is still unknown what the venues will be and what matches it will host.
The news, completely unexpected, has startled the football world in the middle of the afternoon. FIFA, in a Congress held by videoconference, unanimously decided that the candidacy made up of Spain, Portugal and Morocco will be the only one to continue in the race to organize the 2030 World Cup, whose official status must take place in December 2024. However, This decision clears the way for that vote to be victorious.
All of this has been possible after an alliance between the two candidates in the running for which both will be, to a greater or lesser extent, organizers. In a nod to the South American candidacy, which claimed the organization of the World Cup on the 100th anniversary of the first World Cup, held in Uruguay in 1930, FIFA has awarded Paraguay, Uruguay and Argentina the three opening matches, with the first match being at the Centenario stadium in Montevideo.
“In 2030 we will have a unique global footprint, three continents – Africa, Europe and South America – six countries – Argentina, Morocco, Paraguay, Portugal, Spain and Uruguay – welcoming and uniting the world as we celebrate together the beautiful game, the centenary and the FIFA World Cup,” explained Gianni Intanfino, president of the organization.
The president of the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL), Alejandro Domínguez, effusively celebrated the achievement for his confederation. "We believed in Big. The 2030 Centennial World Cup begins where it all began. Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay will host the inaugural matches of the World Cup!
"There will be a time before the game where we will be celebrating the anniversary both in Uruguay, in Argentina and in Paraguay. There will be three inaugurations, they are not just three games, there are three inaugurations that will be held in these headquarters, in these countries, and also all the previous celebrations," he added.
In the Spanish Federation the decision has been welcomed with enthusiasm. After what happened in the last month, there were fears that it could harm the candidacy's chances in any way. “The decision shows FIFA's confidence in the work carried out, and in the capacity and professionalism that each country has demonstrated in planning events of this magnitude. Spain, Portugal and Morocco assume the demands and ambition of preparing the best candidacy dossier ever made.
Pedro Rocha, president of the Managing Commission of the Royal Spanish Football Federation, said he was "excited. I am sure that together with Morocco and Portugal we will organize the best World Cup in history," he declared.
For his part, Fernando Gomes, president of the Portuguese Football Federation, assured that "each of our countries contributes a vibrant football tradition, unmatched organizational experience and a capacity for innovation that will undoubtedly leave its mark on the future of the competition." and Fouzi Lekjaa, president of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, said that it was “an important moment in the history of Morocco, an honor and a responsibility that we have before us and a privilege to join forces with Portugal and Spain," he concluded. .
