Blogger’s Note: England should have won the 2026 World Cup – but the US should not have been allowed to have hosted it due to war crimes committed in Iran. That aside, England will need to qualify the long-way around – which is good for us. We need the practice. There will be no free-passes for the English Lions – and nor should there be. We are on a roll. Of course, FIFA’s corruption has to be dealt with – but we can do this. FIFA and the English FA should respect and support grass-roots (amateur) football. This is the bedrock of ALL football in the world! Without children, youths, and adults kicking a ball around for free – there would be no multi-million dollar football at the high-end of the professional game. I oppose the racism and sexism aimed at North Korea’s young women – who keep winning FIFA World Titles – but who are IGNORED in the West! I make a point of watching their games via the internet – and the North Korean women are the best as far as I am concerned. Now, having said that, the English FA should get off their high horse and help the female amateur sides that are trying to compete at the local level. It is difficult for women as it is. A little help will go a long way. And as for China, don’t get me started. In a country of over a billion people, there must “genetically” be at least “11” men and “11” women who can kick a ball around a pitch for 90-minutes at world-level? I have watched Chinese football develop for decades and remember when the Chinese team actually had an English Manager. China can do this! ACW (23.7.2026)
July 23, 2026
Six nations have already secured their qualification for the 2030 FIFA World Cup, with Spain, Portugal, Morocco, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay guaranteed berths as host countries for the tournament that will commemorate the centennial of the first edition held in Uruguay in 1930.
Spain enters the 2030 World Cup as the first defending champion to host the tournament after winning its second title in the 2026 edition held across Canada, Mexico and the United States. The Spanish squad will attempt to achieve consecutive world crowns, a feat previously accomplished only by Italy (1934, 1938) and Brazil (1958, 1962).
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The three European hosts -Spain, Portugal and Morocco- will serve as principal organizers of the event, following the co-hosting model applied in the 2026 North American edition. This marks the first World Cup to be held across two confederations simultaneously, and the first in Africa since South Africa 2010.
Morocco will host the tournament for the first time, becoming the second African nation to organize a World Cup. Portugal also debuts as a host country. Spain, meanwhile, returns as organizer after the 1982 edition.
The South American leg pays tribute to the 100-year anniversary of the inaugural World Cup. Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay will host one match each at historic venues: the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires, the Centenario Stadium in Montevideo -site of the 1930 final-and the Osvaldo Domínguez Dibb Stadium in Asunción. These three matches will kick off the respective group stage campaigns of each national team before the competition moves entirely to the European and African main venues.
FIFA is evaluating a potential expansion to 64 teams for the centennial edition, a proposal put forward by CONMEBOL in March 2025. On 20 July 2026, CONMEBOL president Alejandro Domínguez announced that the tournament would feature 64 teams, though FIFA has not yet confirmed this change.
Historic Records at Stake
Spain will seek to cement its dominance in international football during the 2030 tournament. The squad, which also won the UEFA European Championship in 2024 and the UEFA Nations League in 2023, has been widely regarded as one of the strongest in football history. The team holds the longest undefeated streak in men’s international football, with 38 consecutive matches without a loss between 2024 and 2026.
No host nation has won the World Cup since France in 1998, when Les Bleus defeated Brazil 3-0 in the final at the Stade de France. Spain will attempt to break that 32-year drought on home soil.
The tournament will feature 23 proposed venues across 17 cities in the three main host countries. Spain has proposed 11 stadiums in nine cities, including potential renovations to historic grounds. Morocco has put forward six stadiums in six cities, while Portugal has proposed three venues in two cities -Lisbon and Porto.
The 2030 World Cup represents a milestone for South-South cooperation in sports organization, with Africa, Europe and South America collaborating on a single tournament. Morocco’s inclusion marks the first time a North African nation has secured hosting rights after five previous failed bids in 1994, 1998, 2006, 2010 and 2026. King Mohammed VI announced Morocco’s integration into the joint bid in March 2023, strengthening the trilateral proposal.
The confirmations place Spain in a unique position as both reigning world champion and host, a combination that has historically proven difficult to manage. Only three nations have won the World Cup as hosts: Uruguay in 1930, Italy in 1934, England in 1966, West Germany in 1974, Argentina in 1978 and France in 1998. Spain will attempt to join that exclusive list while defending its crown simultaneously.
Author: Laura V. Mor
Source: FIFA / Agencies
SANGHA KOMMUNE (SSR) 