The FIFA ratified Spain, Portugal, Morocco, Argentina, Uruguay y Paraguay as host countries of the World Cup 2030 and it was confirmed that the opening match of the competition will be in the Centennial Stadium of Montevideoas presented in the Extraordinary Congresswhich took place this Wednesday in Zurich, Switzerland. The three South American nations will host the event’s centenary matches.
Once the venues for the next World Cups have been chosen, in which It was further confirmed that Saudi Arabia will host the event in 2034at the Conmebol home, in Asunción, the decision made official by FIFA was celebrated and the presidents of the different associations involved spoke. Furthermore, the president of South American football, Alejandro Dominguezreported that the opening match will be in the legendary Uruguay stadium where the first World Cup match was played almost 95 years ago.
“We dreamed it, we believed it and today it is a reality! The three stadiums that will host the 2030 World Cup in Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay. “We are ready!”Domínguez published on his social networks when it became known that the Monumental of Buenos Aires, the Centenary of Montevideo and the new Osvaldo Domínguez Dibb of Asunción will host the World Cup matches.
Gianni Infantino The speech began with the different topics on the agenda and the time came to present the candidacies to organize the 2030 (Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Spain, Portugal and Morocco) and 2034 (Saudi Arabia) FIFA World Cups. Next, the documents were presented that detailed compliance with the minimum requirements to organize the most important football event.
Then, the president of the Conmebol, Alejandro Dominguezwho was in Asunción with Claudio Tapialeader of the Argentine Football Association, Ignacio Alonsohead of the Uruguayan Football Association and Robert Harrisonwho heads the Paraguayan Football Association. The promotional video of the candidacy of the three South American federations to host the World Cup was also shown on the giant screen.
“Today is a historic day, we want to honor the pioneers of the World Cup. Today we are not deciding the venue for another World Cup, but rather we are deciding the venue for the centenary of the World Cup. We have the responsibility to make history and remember those who came before us and show the world that football unites us. Football is lived with great passion in South America and Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay are ready to do it with Spain, Portugal and Morocco, uniting three continents. “We are honoring the past and celebrating the present,” Domínguez said in his speech.
For its part, Claudio Tapiaaccompanied the words of his colleagues and defended Argentina’s candidacy: “It will be a historic day for world and South American football. As we told Infantino in France, in the run-up to the Olympic Games: ‘You are going to be the president who will go down in history as the president who will hold a World Cup on three continents during your administration.’ It is not going to be just another World Cup, because it vindicates the history of the World Cups. South America not only knows how to create talent, but also encouraged the first World Cup in which the Uruguayans were champions. It has been six years since we started this dream and it seemed like it was getting out of hand. We can be organizers of a World Cup and this is going to be the first World Cup of democracy in Argentina. The 2030 World Cup is going to be a clear demonstration that football unites.”
The representatives of Spain, Portugal y Morocco to defend the joint candidacy for the World Cup of 2030just like Saudi Arabiawhich was the only country that offered to host the 2034. After the official presentations, Infantino He asked the advisors for approval through applause from the venues and they proceeded to open the envelopes with the cards that assumed the countries that will host the next two World Cups.
It should be noted that, according to what was published days before the Congress by the parent company of international football, the FIFA evaluation reports for the selection of hosts for the next World Cups “They cover a wide range of criteria, from infrastructure and services to commercial aspects, sustainability and human rights”. This comprehensive approach follows the methodology used to choose the headquarters of the World Cup 2026 and the 2023 and 2027 editions of the Women’s World Cup.
It must be remembered that on December 7, the FIFA Council confirmed that Morocco, Portugal y Spain were selected as the only candidates to host the World Cup in 2030. This decision was made after an evaluation process that followed the methodology used to choose the venues for previous editions. In addition, the entity that presides Gianni Infantino decided to organize a special ceremony in Montevideothe capital of Uruguayto commemorate the centenary of the first World Cup, held in 1930. In addition, two other matches will be played in Argentina y Paraguayas part of this historic celebration.
As FIFA explained in its publication, the joint candidacy of Morocco, Portugal y Spain was evaluated based on detailed reports, specific regulations and a scoring system that determined that met the minimum requirements for the organization of the event. “This candidacy stands out for its ability to unite three nations in a sporting event of such magnitude, which represents an unprecedented collaborative effort in the history of the World Cups,” they stated.
After approval in Congress, the “Centennial Party” will be played in Montevideo, Uruguayin recognition of the role of the Celeste as host and winner of the 1930 edition. In Argentina A meeting will be held in honor of the Albiceleste as a finalist and runner-up in the 1930 edition. Finally, Paraguay It will also serve as host in recognition of that country’s role as the headquarters of CONMEBOL, the first and only confederation existing at the time of the 1930 edition.
The match schedule proposed by FIFA for the 2030 World Cup:
- Saturday June 8 and Sunday June 9: The celebration of the Centennial and the first matches of Uruguay, in Montevideo, Argentina and Paraguay.
- Thursday, June 13 and Friday, June 14: Opening ceremony and opening match of the 2023 FIFA World Cup
- Saturday, June 15 and Sunday, June 16: first matches of the other teams in the groups of Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay.
- Friday, June 21 and Saturday, June 22: second match of all the teams in the groups that make up Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay.
- Sunday, July 21: FIFA World Cup Final
