As the dust settles on recent international tournaments, Irish football fans are already casting their eyes toward the future of the beautiful game. The question on everyone’s lips has finally been answered: where is the next world cup going to be held In a landmark decision made at an Extraordinary FIFA Congress on 11 December 2024, FIFA officially confirmed the hosts for the next two editions of the globe’s biggest sporting event — promising a unique blend of history, unprecedented scale, and a truly global footprint.
Where Is the World Cup 2030 Being Held?
The world cup 2030 is set to be a tournament unlike any other. Marking the centenary of the very first World Cup, the 2030 edition will span three continents and six countries — a first in the tournament’s history. The primary world cup 2030 host duties have been awarded to a joint bid from Morocco, Portugal, and Spain . Morocco wasn’t originally part of the European bid, having initially sought to host the tournament alone, but joined the partnership in March 2023 .
The 2030 world cup is scheduled to run from 8 June to 21 July 2030, making it the longest edition of the tournament to date — a 44-day stretch driven by the logistical demands of a multi-continental event . The competition will feature 48 teams across an expected 21 stadiums in 18 cities spread across the three main host nations.
The Centenary Celebration: A Nod to 1930
The fifa world cup 2030 will carry a special emotional weight, as it marks exactly 100 years since the inaugural tournament was held in Uruguay in 1930. To honour that history, FIFA has awarded three special “centenary celebration matches” to South America, each taking place before the main tournament kicks off in Europe and Africa .
| Country | City | Stadium | Historical Significance |
| Uruguay | Montevideo | Estadio Centenario | Original 1930 host and winner; the stadium is a FIFA Heritage Site |
| Argentina | Buenos Aires | Estadio Monumental | 1930 runners-up and current world champions (Qatar 2022) |
| Paraguay | Asunción | Estadio Osvaldo Domínguez Dibb | Home of CONMEBOL, South American Football Confederation |
The match in Montevideo carries particular resonance — the Estadio Centenario was built specifically for the 1930 tournament and houses the Museo del Fútbol with original artefacts from that historic competition . For any fan lucky enough to attend, it will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
The 2030 Stadiums and Host Cities
Once the South American curtain-raiser concludes, the world cup 2030 transitions fully to the three main host nations. Spain leads the way with the largest share of venues, followed by Morocco and Portugal.
| Host Nation | Cities | Key Stadiums |
| Spain | Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, Bilbao, Valencia, and others | Santiago Bernabéu, Spotify Camp Nou, Estadio de La Cartuja |
| Morocco | Casablanca, Rabat, Marrakesh, Agadir, Fez, Tangier | Hassan II Stadium, Grand Stade de Marrakech |
| Portugal | Lisbon, Porto | Estádio da Luz, Estádio do Dragão |
The location of the final has not yet been formally announced, with official host sites due to be submitted and approved ahead of a December 2026 deadline .
Saudi Arabia Confirmed as 2034 World Cup Host
Looking further ahead, FIFA has confirmed that Saudi Arabia will be the sole host of the 2034 FIFA World Cup . The appointment was made by acclamation at the same Extraordinary FIFA Congress following an uncontested bidding process. Saudi Arabia will become only the third Asian nation to host the tournament, after Japan and South Korea (2002) and Qatar (2022). Notably, it will also be the first time a 48-team World Cup is staged entirely within a single country.
What It Means for Ireland
For Irish football fans, the world cup 2030 presents a genuinely exciting prospect. With Spain and Portugal serving as two of the three main host nations, away trips to support the Boys in Green — should they qualify — would be far more accessible than previous tournaments held in Russia or Qatar. The proximity, the culture, and the football-mad atmosphere of the Iberian Peninsula make 2030 a tournament well worth planning for. The road to qualification starts now.
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