The 2030 FIFA World Cup, the tournament's centenary, will be hosted jointly by Morocco, Spain and Portugal, making Morocco the second African country to host the World Cup.
An unusual format
To mark 100 years since the first World Cup in Uruguay in 1930, FIFA decided that three opening matches will be played in South America, in Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay. The rest of the 48-team tournament will take place in Morocco, Spain and Portugal. FIFA confirmed the arrangement in December 2024.
Morocco's long road
Morocco had bid to host the World Cup five times before, for the 1994, 1998, 2006, 2010 and 2026 tournaments, without success. Joining forces with Spain and Portugal finally brought the tournament across the Strait of Gibraltar.
Stadiums and investment
Morocco is upgrading its major stadiums in cities such as Rabat, Casablanca, Marrakech, Tangier, Fes and Agadir, and plans a very large new stadium near Casablanca. Many of these venues have already been used for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, which Morocco also hosted.
Why it matters for Africa
Morocco's semi-final at the 2022 World Cup, its investment in academies such as the Mohammed VI Football Academy and its role as host of AFCON 2025 have made it a leading football power. Co-hosting 2030 is a chance to show that African football is ready for the biggest stage again, twenty years after South Africa. Read about the 2010 World Cup.
Follow Morocco
See the Morocco national team page, its Elo rating history and our guide to football in Morocco.