The FIFA World Cup is the most famous sports tournament in the world, even more than America’s NFL and the prestigious UEFA Champions League. According to reports, the World Cup draws an average of around 5.3 billion viewers when it’s aired every four years, with soccer fans getting to see their countries compete at the highest level possible.
The good thing about the tournament is not how it brings people together but how FIFA itself tries to plan ahead. This means there is already a plan in place for the next two tournaments, including the 2030 edition, which six countries will host on three different continents!
Why are countries eager to host the FIFA World Cup?
The FIFA World Cup is by far the most watched sports event in the world and for a reason. The world gets together every four years to watch the biggest tournament on earth, with great togetherness and healthy competition. Every country that has had the chance to hold a World Cup before has experienced immense benefits, more than financial gains.
According to James Brownsell in an article posted on Aljazeera, he said, “For a country, a World Cup is about pride and honor and publicity, more than it is about making money. Hosting a World Cup is a nation opening its arms and its homes and saying to the world, ‘Hayya, you’re welcome here’.”
Hosting the FIFA World Cup is a big deal for a nation, explaining why several bids come in years before the tournament starts. For example, South Africa became the first African country to host the World Cup when they bid in 2010, a move that brought more global attention to the country. Qatar hosted the last World Cup, changing the world’s perspective of the Middle East, despite some human rights claims about workers building the stadium.
The World Cup is a big deal, so for a country to be considered to host the tournament means many perks are involved here, including financial gains, economic boosts, increased tourism, cultural exchange, and many more.
Reasons behind six countries to host the FIFA World Cup in 2030
The next editions of the World Cup will be the first of their kind. The 2026 World Cup will be hosted mostly by the United States but will also take place in Canada and Mexico, making it the first time the tournament will be played in three different countries. Rather than the 36-team format used in the past, the 2026 and the subsequent World Cup editions will feature 48 teams.
The new changes being introduced to the World Cup have sparked huge interest from soccer fans, but what’s most exciting about the tournament is that six countries will host the 2030 edition on three different continents. Spain, Portugal, and Morocco are set to host the 2030 World Cup mainly, but the tournament will also occur in Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay.
“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,” FIFA declared in a statement on Wednesday.
The introduction of the new rule that allows more than two countries to host the World Cup is the perfect way to avert some political choices, giving the organization the chance to entrust the responsibilities of hosting a World Cup to more reliable allies.
However, here’s a quick question for you, will Saudi Arabia win their bid to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup?
