Wednesday, October 4 – In an exciting announcement, FIFA, the international governing body for football, revealed that Morocco, alongside Portugal and Spain, will jointly host the 2030 FIFA World Cup. This historic decision makes Morocco the second African country, after South Africa in 2010, to host the prestigious tournament.
The news comes just a week after Morocco was awarded the hosting rights for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). The Moroccan people, filled with joy and pride, took to the streets of Rabat to celebrate the announcements.
Football enthusiasts expressed their excitement and optimism about hosting the World Cup. Janate, a Moroccan football fan, said, “As a Moroccan, I’m very happy and proud to host the 2030 World Cup with the help of Portugal and Spain. It will be a great event, and I hope that we will feel the same happiness we did back in the 2022 World Cup.” Another fan named Khaoula added, “I’m very happy that Morocco will be taking part in such a big event as the World Cup, working with big countries like Portugal and Spain, of course. So we’re very happy. We hope it will go well, with God’s grace. May Morocco win!”
While most of the matches will be played in the three host countries, Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay will also see some fixtures, as the World Cup celebrates its centenary. It should be noted that starting from the 2026 World Cup in North America, the tournament will feature 48 teams, increasing the excitement and competitiveness of the event.
The FIFA Council’s acceptance of the unified 2030 candidacy still requires formal approval next year at a meeting of the 211 member federations, but this is expected to be a mere formality. The final decision for the host country of the 2034 World Cup will be made at a separate congress, according to FIFA.
The tournament, scheduled for June-July 2030, will kick off in Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay – dubbed the “Centenary Celebration Matches” by FIFA – before moving to the core host nations, Spain, Portugal, and Morocco. This decision marks a significant victory for Morocco, which has made substantial investments in infrastructure in its major cities. Additionally, the strong performance of the Moroccan men’s national team, reaching the World Cup semifinals in Qatar and defeating Spain and Portugal in previous rounds, greatly bolstered Morocco’s bid.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the Royal Cabinet of Moroccan King Mohammed VI expressed its satisfaction with the selection, stating that it “recognized Morocco’s choice place in the ranks of great nations.”
The announcement of Morocco’s hosting of the 2030 World Cup will undoubtedly spark enormous excitement and anticipation within the country. It is a testament to Morocco’s growing stature as a global sporting destination. Football fans across Africa and the world eagerly anticipate the prestigious tournament and hope for a memorable and successful event that will further enhance the reputation of African football on the global stage.
