By KT Reporter
Morocco has been confirmed as one of the 2030 FIFA World Cup hosts, alongside Spain and Portugal, making Morocco the second African nation to host the World Cup, following South Africa in 2010.
The decision was unanimously approved during an Extraordinary FIFA Congress held via video conference on Wednesday with all 211 Member Associations represented. The joint Morocco-Spain-Portugal bid, scored an impressive 4.2 out of 5 in its evaluation, far exceeding the minimum hosting requirements.
Additionally, the 2030 World Cup will feature matches in Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay to commemorate the centenary of the inaugural tournament held in Uruguay in 1930. The opening matches will take place in South America.
Of the six host nations, Uruguay staged the first-ever World Cup in 1930, while Argentina and Spain have also hosted the tournament in the past. Portugal, Paraguay, and Morocco will serve as first-time hosts.
A statement from the Continental Soccer Governing Body (CAF), indicated that this comes as a morale booster for Morocco which has invested heavily in sports infrastructure.
“For Africa, Morocco’s co-hosting role represents a moment of pride and progress. The country has a long history of football excellence and has made significant investments in sports infrastructure,” reads part of the statement.
“Its selection as a host showcases Africa’s ability to stage world-class events and contributes to the continent’s legacy in football history,” reads another part of CAF’s statement.
Meanwhile, FIFA officially announced Saudi Arabia as the host nation for the 2034 FIFA World Cup. This marks Saudi Arabia as the second Middle Eastern country to host the tournament, following Qatar’s hosting of the 2022 edition.
URN understands that both the 2030 and 2034 World Cups had only one bid each, and both were confirmed by acclamation. The 2034 tournament in Saudi Arabia will feature matches across 15 stadiums located in five host cities: Riyadh, Jeddah, Al Khobar, Abha, and Neom-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
