FIFA Congress confirms Spain, Portugal, Morocco as 2030 World Cup hosts

On 11 December 2024, FIFA's member associations met in an online extraordinary Congress, the body's highest authority, and formally confirmed the hosts of the next two men's World Cups. The decisions were approved by acclamation, without a contested vote, because each bid had been the only one on the table.

The 2030 tournament was awarded to Spain, Portugal and Morocco, spanning Europe and Africa. To mark the competition's centenary, three opening matches were assigned to Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay in South America, making it the first World Cup played on three continents. The 2034 edition went to Saudi Arabia, which had been the only candidate after other possible bidders stepped aside. That choice drew criticism from human rights groups over migrant labour conditions and the country's rights record.

The Congress vote settled who would host, but it did not fix where the 2030 final would be played. Spain and Morocco both have large stadiums that could stage it, so the question was left for FIFA to decide later. That open question is the background to the current dispute between Madrid and Rabat.