By Victor Kanayo
For the first time ever, World football governing body, FIFA, has approved the hosting of a World Cup in three continents and six countries.
Though the greatest global soccer fiesta in 2030, according to FIFA in a statement has been jointly allocated to Morocco, Spain, and Portugal, three other Nations – Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay will host three matches to mark the tournament’s centenary.
The inaugural World Cup in 1930 was held in Uruguay and won by the hosts after they defeated Argentina in the final in Montevideo.
While Morocco, Spain and Portugal are located in Africa and Europe respectively, Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay are in Southern American part of the world.
Confirmation Statement
Part of FIFA’s statement announcing the 2030 World Cup host reads, “In 2030, the FIFA World Cup will unite three continents and six countries, inviting the entire world to join in the celebration of the beautiful game, the Centenary and the FIFA World Cup itself.
“The FIFA Council unanimously agreed that the sole candidacy will be the combined bid of Morocco, Portugal, and Spain, which will host the event in 2030 and qualify automatically from the existing slot allocation subject to the completion of a successful bidding process conducted by FIFA and a decision by the FIFA Congress in 2024.
“Additionally, having taken into account the historical context of the first-ever FIFA World Cup, the FIFA Council further unanimously agreed to host a unique centenary celebration ceremony in the country’s capital, Montevideo, where the first ever FIFA World Cup took place in 2030, as well as three World Cup matches in Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay respectively.”
Spain was awarded the World Cup weeks after their disgraced former chief Luis Rubiales was forced to step down following his allegedly unsolicited Kiss on the lips of player Jenni Hermoso at the Women’s World Cup.
With the World Cup being held across six countries in two different hemispheres, it might mean some teams play their group matches in different seasons.
The 2022 World Cup was held in Qatar but it was moved from the traditional mid-year window and played in November and December to avoid playing in the searing heat of the Gulf summer.
Response, Historical Perspectives
Argentina are the defending champions and their football association (AFA) said their team “will play the first match of the 2030 group stage at home and with its people”.
The President of the Paraguayan Football Association, Robert Harrison, said Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay would automatically qualify for the World Cup but did not clarify what that would mean for the South American qualifying competition.
Paraguay have won the Copa America title twice but they last qualified for the World Cup in 2010, where they were knocked out in the quarter-final — their best result in the tournament.
They did not finish higher than seventh in the South American World Cup qualifiers for the 2014, 2018 and 2022 editions.
First Host Stage For Morocco, Portugal, Another For Africa
While Portugal and Morocco have never hosted the World Cup, Spain last hosted the tournament in 1982.
Portugal, who hosted the European Championship in 2004, have finally succeeded in the World Cup bidding process after failing to secure hosting rights for the 2018 and 2022 editions along with Spain.
After South Africa, Morocco has now become second African nation to host the World Cup.
