FIFA confirms 2030 World Cup hosts and automatic qualifiers

FIFA confirmed that the 2030 FIFA World Cup will be co‑hosted by Spain, Portugal and Morocco, covering the majority of the 101 matches across Europe and North‑Africa. Three opening matches will be staged in South America – Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay – to mark the tournament’s centenary.

The governing body also granted six nations automatic qualification: the three main hosts (Spain, Portugal, Morocco) plus Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay as co‑organisers of the opening games. This decision reduces the number of spots available in the regular qualifiers for UEFA, CAF and CONMEBOL.

A dispute has emerged over the location of the final. Spain’s federation favours the renovated Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid, while Morocco pushes for the new 115,000‑seat Hassan II stadium near Casablanca. Sources cite the influence of Moroccan football officials and the symbolic value of holding a final in Africa for the first time since 2010.