The Football World Cup (FIFA World Cup, World Cup, Mundial) is the main international football competition in which the national teams of FIFA member countries of all continents can participate. Once every 4 years the final tournaments of the championships are held.
The Women's World Cup has also been held every four years since 1991, and always takes place one year after the Men's World Cup.
FIFA World Cup 2030
The first matches of the 2030 FIFA World Cup will take place on June 8–9, 2030, as part of the tournament's centenary celebrations. One match will be played in Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay, respectively. The official opening and the first matches of the main tournament are scheduled for June 13–14 in Spain, Portugal and Morocco. The final will be held on July 21, 2030.
The main part of the tournament will be played in Spain, Portugal and Morocco, with 101 matches scheduled across the three host countries. The three special matches in South America will mark the 100th anniversary of the first FIFA World Cup, which was held in Uruguay in 1930.
Spain, Portugal and Morocco are the main host countries, while Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay will each stage one centenary match. All six national teams will automatically qualify for the final tournament.
Tournament Format
The 2030 World Cup will be the second tournament in history to feature 48 national teams, following the expansion of the format at the 2026 World Cup. Teams will compete for the most prestigious trophy in world football over several weeks, with the tournament retaining a group stage followed by a knockout phase.
The key feature of the 2030 World Cup will be its unprecedented geographical scope. Most matches will be played in Europe and Africa, while three games will take place in South America as part of the celebration of the World Cup's centenary.
How the 2026 World Cup Was Played
The previous World Cup took place from June 11 to July 19, 2026, in the USA, Mexico and Canada. The tournament was the first in history to feature 48 national teams, with 104 matches played across 16 cities.
Spain became world champions after defeating Argentina 1–0 after extra time in the final. The only goal was scored by Ferran Torres in the 106th minute. It was Spain's second World Cup title.
1st place — Spain
2nd place — Argentina
3rd place — England
In the third-place match, England defeated France 6–4. Spain also became the first national team to simultaneously hold the men's and women's World Cup titles.
History of the FIFA World Cup
The first FIFA World Cup was held in 1930 and featured 13 teams. Uruguay won the inaugural tournament, defeating Argentina 4–2 in the final. In 2010, the last surviving participant of that tournament, Argentine forward Francisco Varallo, passed away. He shared his memories of the historic event: “We went to the final against Uruguay as if we were going to war. I still can't get over the defeat.”
Interesting Facts About the World Cup
- A Tournament That United Three Continents
The 2030 World Cup will be unique in that matches will be played across three continents. Spain, Portugal and Morocco will host the main part of the tournament, while Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay will stage three centenary matches. The 2026 World Cup was the first tournament to be hosted by three countries — the USA, Canada and Mexico. It also introduced the expanded 48-team format.
- Pelé — One of a Kind
Pelé won three World Cup titles, a record that no other player has matched. He won his first World Cup at the age of 17, becoming the youngest world champion and the youngest player to score in a World Cup final.
- Klose — Forever at the Top
Germany's Miroslav Klose is the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history, with 16 goals. His tally is higher than those of Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
- One in a Million — Oleg Salenko
In 1994, Russian forward Oleg Salenko scored five goals against Cameroon in a single match. No player had done this before, and no one has matched the achievement since. It remains a World Cup record.
- The Trophy That Leaves — But Not Forever
The World Cup winners receive a replica of the trophy, while the original gold trophy remains with FIFA. The last team to permanently receive the original trophy was Brazil after winning the tournament for the third time in 1970.
- A Match Still Remembered Today
Austria and Switzerland produced a remarkable 7–5 thriller at the 1954 World Cup. It remains the highest-scoring match in World Cup history. The game was played in intense heat, with players reportedly suffering from the extreme conditions.
- Yugoslavia That No Longer Existed
Yugoslavia competed at the 1998 World Cup even though the country was already undergoing major political and territorial changes. The squad included players from what would later become Serbia and Montenegro, and the team reached the knockout stage.
- Football on a Sci-Fi Level
At the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, referees used a semi-automated offside technology system featuring cameras, sensors and algorithms. Decisions could be made almost instantly, bringing football technology closer to the future.
Previous FIFA World Cup Results
| Year | Host Countries | Results |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | USA, Mexico, Canada | 1 — Spain 2 — Argentina 3 — England |
| 2022 | Qatar | 1 — Argentina 2 — France 3 — Croatia |
| 2018 | Russia | 1 — France 2 — Croatia 3 — Belgium |
FIFA World Cup 2034
The 2034 FIFA World Cup will take place in Saudi Arabia. The country was officially selected to host the tournament following a decision by the FIFA Extraordinary Congress. The 2034 World Cup will be the first 48-team World Cup to be held entirely in a single country.
Saudi Arabia will become the third Middle Eastern country to host the men's World Cup, following Qatar in 2022. The tournament will continue the 48-team format first introduced at the 2026 World Cup.
The exact dates, cities, stadiums and final match schedule have not yet been announced.
Keep an eye on the dates of the FIFA World Cup and other events in our Sports events calendar.
