2030 FIFA World Cup: The Grand Centennial Celebration of Football
FIFA Surprises with New Hosts on Three Continents
The most significant tournament in the “most beautiful game” will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2030, and FIFA is exploring ways to make this event truly memorable. On Wednesday, the organization announced that the 2030 FIFA World Cup will be hosted across six countries on three continents, a format never before seen in soccer. Let’s have a look at the 2030 World Cup schedule and locations.
The majority of the soccer tournament will take place in Spain, Portugal, and Morocco. However, FIFA President Gianni Infantino also revealed that three South American countries – Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay – will host three opening matches. This decision pays homage to the first-ever World Cup held in 1930, which was hosted by Uruguay and won by the same country.
In the words of FIFA President, “The first of these three matches will, of course, be played at the stadium where it all began, the iconic Centenario in Montevideo, as a fitting tribute to the centennial edition of the FIFA World Cup.”
Initially, Chile was set to be part of this project alongside the other South American nations hosting the World Cup. However, FIFA rejected their offer, citing a unanimous decision to maintain a balanced distribution of host countries.
An Unprecedented Format
The 2030 FIFA World Cup will feature a format never seen before in the history of World Cup tournaments.
It’s true that Korea and Japan jointly hosted the event in 2022, and the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be held across three North American countries: USA, Mexico, and Canada. Even so, in these cases, all host countries shared a common geographical region.
In 2030, soccer matches will be played on three different continents, an extraordinary feat that demands meticulous organization, although specific World Cup schedules and stadiums have not yet been disclosed by the organizers.
Controversial Decision
The decision to have six countries and three continents host the 2030 FIFA World Cup has garnered mixed opinions. The FIFA head justified this choice by stating, “In a divided world, FIFA and football are uniting.”
Meanwhile, Freddie Daley, a researcher in Global Economic Policy, argued that this format will involve extensive travel for fans, players, and numerous flights, contributing to the environmental issues plaguing the world.
Furthermore, by selecting Spain, Portugal, and Morocco as hosts for the 2030 event, it opens the door for Saudi Arabia to host the 2034 World Cup. The concern is reminiscent of the issues faced during the 2022 Qatar World Cup, two countries having a history tainted by human rights violations being chosen as hosts.
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