Lisbon: Renowned footballer Cristiano Ronaldo expressed his excitement regarding Portugal's role as a co-host for the FIFA World Cup 2030, describing it as a realization of a lifelong dream.
The upcoming World Cup will mark the 100th edition of this esteemed tournament, which will be jointly hosted by Morocco, Portugal, and Spain. Additionally, FIFA announced on Wednesday that Saudi Arabia will host the 2034 World Cup.
Ronaldo shared his thoughts on his official X account, stating that the event would instill a sense of pride in the nation.
"A dream come true. Portugal will host the 2030 World Cup and fill us with pride. Together," Ronaldo posted on X.
Both hosting bids were unanimously approved during a virtual FIFA Congress held on Wednesday. Furthermore, the centenary matches for the 2030 World Cup will take place in Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay.
"Introducing the hosts for the next two editions of the @FIFAWorldCup! Morocco, Portugal, and Spain will host in 2030, with centenary celebration matches in Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay. Four years later, Saudi Arabia will host the FIFA World Cup 2034," FIFA announced on X.
The first of these three centenary matches will occur in South America at Estadio Centenario in Uruguay, the venue where the tournament originally began. During the FIFA Congress, representatives from various nations cast their votes by applauding in front of their cameras.
Last year, Saudi Arabia was the only bidder for the 2034 World Cup, as FIFA opted to combine the voting processes for the 2030 and 2034 tournaments.
Saudi Arabia is set to host the tournament for the first time following the official announcement, reflecting its increasing prominence in the global sports arena.
The bid from Saudi Arabia achieved the highest rating from FIFA's evaluation team, scoring 4.2 out of 5. The 2034 World Cup will be notable as it will be the first instance of the expanded 48-team format being held in a single nation.
In contrast, the 2026 World Cup will be the inaugural event featuring the 48-team format, which will take place across three countries: the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino extended his congratulations to the host nations before wrapping up the FIFA Congress.
