December 12, 2024: Cristiano Ronaldo has expressed his excitement and pride after Portugal was confirmed as one of the co-hosts of the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
The legendary footballer took to his official X (formerly Twitter) handle to share his thoughts, calling it a “dream come true” and emphasizing the immense pride the tournament will bring to the nation.
“A dream come true. Portugal will host the 2030 World Cup and fill us with pride. Together,” Ronaldo wrote, clearly thrilled by the historic announcement.
The 2030 World Cup will be a special edition, marking the 100th anniversary of the prestigious tournament. The competition will be jointly hosted by Morocco, Portugal, and Spain, while Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay will host centenary celebration matches in South America. This announcement was made during a virtual FIFA Congress on Wednesday, where the bids were uncontested and unanimously approved.
The World Cup in 2030 will not only be a milestone in terms of the tournament’s history but will also have symbolic significance with matches being held in Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay—countries that were instrumental in the tournament’s founding. The opening match is expected to take place in Uruguay, at the historic Estadio Centenario, where the first-ever FIFA World Cup match was held in 1930.
Meanwhile, FIFA also confirmed that Saudi Arabia would host the 2034 World Cup, marking the first time the kingdom will host the tournament. Saudi Arabia’s bid was the only one submitted for 2034 and received the highest score in FIFA’s evaluation, with a rating of 4.2 out of 5. This marks a significant step in Saudi Arabia’s growing influence in global sports.
FIFA’s decision to combine the voting for the 2030 and 2034 World Cups in one vote made the process seamless. The 2034 World Cup will also be the first to feature the expanded format of 48 teams, a format that will debut in the 2026 World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino congratulated the host nations and expressed his excitement about the upcoming tournaments during the closing remarks of the Congress.
For Portugal, Spain, and Morocco, the 2030 World Cup will be a monumental event, bringing the prestigious competition to these nations and providing Ronaldo, alongside other footballing legends, with an incredible opportunity to make history.
