2030 World Cup set to make history across three continents - Milliyet
Milliyet AppUygulamayı AçWebWeb'de Devam Et EN2030 World Cup set to make history across three continentsNews2030 World Cup Set To Make History Across Three Continents2030 World Cup set to make history across three continents24.07.2026 - 15:04 | Last Updated: 24.07.2026 - 15:04
The 2030 FIFA World Cup, scheduled to run from June 8 to July 21, will be jointly hosted by Spain, Portugal, Morocco, Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay, making it the first World Cup to span three continents and six countries.
All six host nations will qualify automatically without going through the traditional qualification process.
To mark the 100th anniversary of the first FIFA World Cup, the tournament will begin with three opening matches in Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay. Each of the three South American hosts will play its opening group-stage match at home before the tournament shifts to its main venues in Europe and Africa.
Montevideo's iconic Estadio Centenario, which hosted the inaugural World Cup final in 1930, is expected to be the centerpiece of the centenary celebrations and host the special opening match. Additional opening fixtures are planned at Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires and Estadio Osvaldo Domínguez Dibb in Asunción.
The tournament's official opening ceremony and the remainder of the group stage are expected to begin in Spain, Portugal and Morocco on June 13 and 14.
One of the biggest unanswered questions is the venue for the 2030 World Cup final. Spain and Morocco are both competing to host the showpiece event, although FIFA has yet to confirm the list of official stadiums.
Spain's renovated Santiago Bernabéu Stadium is widely considered the leading candidate, while Morocco is promoting the Grand Stade Hassan II in Casablanca, a new 115,000 seat stadium currently under construction.
Although the host countries have submitted their proposed venues, FIFA has not finalized the stadium lineup, and changes remain possible before the governing body gives its official approval.
Meanwhile, FIFA President Gianni Infantino has suggested that the centenary edition could feature an even larger tournament. After describing the 2026 World Cup as a success, Infantino raised the possibility of expanding the competition from 48 to 64 teams.
He argued that increasing the number of participating nations would give smaller footballing countries greater opportunities to compete on the global stage and encourage their long-term development.
