Why the Saudis are the winners: the most important questions about the 2030 World Cup

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FIFA actually wanted to announce the decision on the location of the 2030 World Cup at the 2024 FIFA Congress in Thailand. But now she’s already done it. The first three matches of the tournament will take place in Uruguay, Paraguay and Argentina. The other competitions in Spain, Portugal and Morocco. So FIFA quickly combined two applications into one. For good reason.

After the Second World War, every second World Cup took place in Europe. That is why FIFA introduced a rotation system in 2000. From the 2010 World Cup onwards, the tournament would take place regularly between the six continental associations UEFA (Europe), Conmebol (South America), Concacaf (North and Central America), CAF (Africa), AFC (Asia) and OFC (Oceania). . Just seven years later, the Executive Committee abolished the whole thing. Instead, from now on, only the continental associations that have hosted the last two World Cups will be excluded from a World Cup prize.

With the US, Mexico and Canada (2026) and Spain, Portugal, Morocco, Uruguay, Paraguay and Argentina (2030), four of the six associations – Concacaf, UEFA, CAF and Conmebol – are out of the running for the 2034 World Cup. Only Asia and Oceania (AFC and OFC) remain.

Since Australia joined the Asian Continental Association in 2005, Oceania has also been virtually excluded, as this continental association consists almost exclusively of small island states that can hardly organize a World Cup.

So only Asia remains. And this also includes Saudi Arabia, which already wanted to apply before 2030, but withdrew its application at the last minute. Knowing that the railway will be free in 2034?

The English ‘DailyMail’ writes: ‘Gianni Infantino’s absurd idea for a bloated 2030 World Cup in six countries will hit players and fans hard.’ Reason: It is of course much more difficult for spectators to support their country locally when the tournament takes place on three different continents.

The Association of European Football Fans FSE is also complaining. “FIFA continues its vicious cycle of destruction against the greatest tournament in the world. Terrible for the fans. To do this, the country is ignoring the environment and rolling out the red carpet to a 2034 host country (Saudi Arabia, editor’s note) with a shocking human rights record. It’s the end of the World Cup as we know it.”

Marco Rose (47), coach of YB Champions League opponent RB Leipzig, comments on the award with a touch of humor. He said on Wednesday after the match against Manchester City (1:3): “We screw and screw and screw and come up with something else. One day we will play on Mount Everest because we can create a football field there and put it on the market.”

The opening match is something for the romantics among football fans. One hundred years after the first World Cup took place in Uruguay, the 2030 World Cup will start in the country of the 1930 World Cup winner. President Lacalle Pou wrote on X: “Uruguayan champions! After 100 years, the world will once again look to Uruguay and our Centenario Stadium at the opening of the 2030 World Cup. This recognition does justice to the pioneers who wrote football history.”

Six host nations on three continents – there have never been so many host nations at a World Cup. The games take place in Spain, Portugal (both Europe), Morocco (Africa) and Uruguay, Paraguay and Argentina (all South America).

Normally the host is automatically qualified for the tournament. This rule also applies in 2026, when the World Cup will take place in the US, Canada and Mexico.

According to information from FIFA, Spain, Portugal and Morocco will attend, “subject to the successful completion of the registration process carried out by FIFA and a decision of the FIFA Congress in 2024”. It remains to be seen whether this also applies to the other three hosts. However, it can be assumed that Uruguay, Paraguay and Argentina will have to get their tickets via the normal qualifying route.

The three South American hosts are only there for the 100th anniversary and are allowed to play one match each. The remaining 101 of the 104 matches will be divided between Spain, Portugal and Morocco. Whether this is the same or significantly more for one country than for another is still an open question.

Although the opening match has already been played, it remains to be seen where the final will take place. However, FIFA has clear ideas about the stadium where the event will take place. There must be room for at least 80,000 spectators. That is why there are currently only two stadiums in question: the Camp Nou in Barcelona and the Bernabeu in Madrid. After the new construction, the stadium in Casablanca would also meet the requirements.

The Bernabeu has the best cards. How is that possible? The World Cup final usually takes place in the capital. Since 2006, always in the largest or almost largest city in the country. If the final takes place in Spain, it’s hard to imagine that they wouldn’t want the final to take place in the capital.

Only when the FIFA Congress approves the whole thing next year will we know exactly in which stadiums the 2030 World Cup title will be contested. The only thing that is certain is that the opening match will take place at the Estadio Centenario in Montevideo (Uruguay). The following additional stages are available:

• Argentina: Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires
• Paraguay: Estadtio Defensores del Chaco in Asuncion
• Spain: The association proposes 15 possible stadiums, of which eleven must be allocated. These include Camp Nou (Barcelona), Wanda Metropolitano (Madrid), Bernabeu (Madrid) and Estadio de Gran Canaria (Las Palmas).
• Portugal: Estadio da Luz (Lisbon), Estadio Jose Alvalade (Lisbon), Estadio Drago (Porto)
• Morocco: Ibn Batouta Stadium (Tangier), Prince Abdullah Stadium (Rabat), Adrar Stadium (Agadir). Fes Stadium (Fès) and the new stadium in Casablana.

It is still unclear which country will ultimately get how many matches and locations. A total of 101 matches will take place. The number of participating teams will be expanded in 2026 (to 48 teams).

Source : Blick