Spain and Portugal gave a definitive boost to the Iberian Bid for the 2030 World Cup in an institutional act at the Metropolitan Stadium with the presence of Felipe VI, the Head of State of Portugal, Rebelo de Sousa, the Presidents of the Government, Antonio Costa and Pedro Sánchez, and the Ministers of Culture of both countries, Thiago Brandao and Rodríguez Uribes, among other local and national authorities.
He served as host Luis Rubiales, president of the RFEF, who was accompanied by Fernando Gomes, president of the Portuguese federation. The level of authorities present at the event gives an idea of the strength of the Iberian Bid, one of the favorites for the centenary of the World Cup. “Our gratitude to the Heads of State and to the presidents of both governments is infinite,” said Rubiales, who insisted on “the enthusiasm and strength with which this great candidacy arrives.” “The success of Portugal and Spain will also be the success of FIFA,” insisted Rubiales.
But although the Iberian Bid is very strong, it will have tough rivals. It is not the first time that Spain and Portugal have jointly attended the competition to organize a World Cup. They did so previously in 2018 and 2022, under the presidency of Ángel Villar, but lost to Russia and Qatar.
Morocco does not give up, and tries to mount an alternative candidacy together with Algeria and Tunisia. They will also be rivals of Spain for the organization of the Centennial World Cup, most likely Uruguay, along with Argentina and Chile, and also England, which seeks the support of Scotland, Wales and Ireland.
FIFA will open the bidding process for applications in June 2022. The final venue will not be known until two years later, when FIFA celebrates its 74th Congress and announces the winning country or candidacy of the organization of what will be the centenary of the World Cup, whose first edition was held in Uruguay in 1930.
According to the FIFA rules for the rotation of continents, The 2030 World Cup cannot be held in Asia (AFC) as members of the Asian Football Confederation are excluded from the bid following the selection of Qatar for the 2022 World Cup, nor in North, Central and the Caribbean (Concacaf) since the joint candidacy of Canada, Mexico and the United States will host the 2026 World Cup.