When is the next FIFA World Cup? 2030 hosts, dates and format

What the report says

Al Jazeera reports that the 2030 FIFA World Cup is planned as a centenary edition staged across six countries on three continents, with Spain, Portugal and Morocco hosting most matches. The tournament will also include early “centenary” games in Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay to mark 100 years since the first World Cup in Uruguay in 1930.

According to the report, FIFA’s proposed calendar has the South American matches on June 8 and 9, 2030, before the main opening events and first games in Morocco, Portugal and Spain on June 13 and 14. The final is expected on July 21, though FIFA has not issued the complete match schedule. Teams playing in South America are expected to receive extra time for travel and preparation before continuing their group-stage fixtures.

Six teams have already qualified automatically as hosts: Spain, Portugal, Morocco, Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay. The remaining 42 places are to be decided through continental qualifying competitions. The 2030 event is currently set to use the 48-team format introduced for the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico, but FIFA President Gianni Infantino has said a proposal to expand future tournaments to 64 teams will be reviewed and discussed.

The tournament’s structure is significant because it links FIFA’s modern expansion plans with World Cup history. Uruguay hosted and won the inaugural 1930 tournament, beating Argentina in the final in Montevideo. Al Jazeera also notes that Saudi Arabia is scheduled to host the following men’s World Cup in 2034, after FIFA confirmed it as host in December 2024.