TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – Spain's triumph over Argentina in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final has shifted attention to the next edition of football's biggest tournament, which will mark the competition's centenary in 2030.
The 2030 FIFA World Cup will become the first men's tournament to be staged across six countries and three continents. Spain, Portugal, and Morocco will serve as the tournament's main hosts, while Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay will each stage one opening-round match to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the inaugural World Cup in 1930.
As reported by Al Jazeera, FIFA designed the unique hosting arrangement to celebrate the tournament's origins in South America while allowing the bulk of the competition to be played in Europe and Africa.
Here are the key facts about the 2030 FIFA World Cup:
When will the 2030 World Cup be held?
According to FIFA's proposed schedule, the centenary matches in Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay will take place on June 8 and 9, 2030.
The tournament's official opening ceremony and the first matches in Spain, Portugal, and Morocco are expected to begin on June 13 and 14, while the final is scheduled for July 21, 2030. FIFA has yet to release the complete match calendar.
Which countries will host the tournament?
The tournament's main hosts are:
- Spain
- Portugal
- Morocco
To celebrate the World Cup's 100th anniversary, three South American nations will each host one opening-round match:
- Uruguay
- Argentina
- Paraguay
Uruguay was selected in recognition of hosting the first FIFA World Cup in 1930. Argentina will stage a centenary match as runner-up of that inaugural tournament, while Paraguay was chosen as the home of CONMEBOL, the world's oldest continental football confederation.
Which teams have already qualified?
All six host nations automatically qualify for the tournament:
- Spain
- Portugal
- Morocco
- Uruguay
- Argentina
- Paraguay
The remaining 42 places will be decided through FIFA's continental qualifying competitions.
How will the schedule work?
The three South American centenary matches will be played before the main tournament begins. Teams involved in those fixtures will receive additional time for travel, recovery, and preparation before returning to the group-stage schedule in Europe and Africa.
The remaining teams in the groups containing Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay are expected to begin their campaigns on June 15 and 16, with the second round of matches scheduled for June 21 and 22.
Will the tournament expand to 64 teams?
The 2030 World Cup is currently planned to feature 48 teams, the same format introduced at the 2026 tournament in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
However, FIFA President Gianni Infantino has confirmed that football's governing body will consider a proposal to expand the tournament to 64 teams.
Infantino described the 48-team format as a success, saying it has broadened participation and strengthened global football by giving more nations the opportunity to compete at the highest level.
Why are there centenary matches?
According to FIFA, the special matches commemorate the tournament's origins in South America.
The first FIFA World Cup was held in Uruguay in 1930, after the country's victories in the 1924 and 1928 Olympic football tournaments convinced FIFA to launch its own global championship.
The inaugural tournament featured 13 teams, with Uruguay defeating Argentina 4-2 in the final at Montevideo's Estadio Centenario to become the first world champion.
Since then, the World Cup has expanded from 13 teams in 1930 to 32 teams in 1998 and 48 teams beginning in 2026.
According to ABC News, the six host nations will automatically qualify for the tournament, while the remaining nations will compete through FIFA's qualification process over the coming years.
What comes after 2030?
Following the centenary tournament, the next FIFA World Cup will be held in 2034, with Saudi Arabia confirmed as the sole host nation.
Unlike the 2030 edition, which will span six countries across three continents, the 2034 tournament will return to a single-host format. FIFA has yet to announce the match schedule or tournament dates.
Read: How Much Did Spain Earn as 2026 FIFA World Cup Champions?
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