(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) ZURICH, Dec 11 (KUNA) -- The FIFA Council voted on Wednesday the joint bid of Morocco Spain and Portugal as hosts for the 2030 FIFA World Cup and Saudi Arabia as the host for the 2034 FIFA World Cup.
This decision was taken during an extraordinary FIFA Congress meeting where member associations from all 211 national football federations participated in the official vote.
The joint bid submitted by the Moroccan, Portuguese and the Spanish Football Federations to host the 2030 FIFA World Cup received the most votes. Meanwhile, the Saudi Arabian Football Federation's sole bid to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup was also approved.
Additionally, the FIFA Congress approved a proposal submitted by the national football federations of Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay to host celebratory matches as part of the 2030 World Cup to mark the tournament's centennial anniversary.
For the first time in the history of the World Cup, a joint bid spanning three continents Europe (Spain and Portugal) Africa (Morocco) was chosen to host the World Cup indeed of and South America (Uruguay Argentina and Paraguay) as the host of symbolic matches to honor the tournament's 100th anniversary.
Speaking during the FIFA congress, Gianni Infantino said: "This is a historic compromise among national football associations and an agreement that truly unites the world. It reflects FIFA's vision of fostering international cooperation in a world that is often divided. We live unity we live and we live football so let's make history together. Let's unite the world with football."
The next FIFA World Cup scheduled for 2026 will be held in the United States Canada and Mexico featuring 48 teams in 104 matches over one month. (end)
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