When and where is the next World Cup as 2026 edition comes to an end

For many fans who just watched the 2026 World Cup final, this is a sad time. The tournament that has captivated the world for the last five weeks will be missed.

Don’t worry, though. It’s only four years until the next one kicks off. The 2030 World Cup will be upon us before long.

Advertisement

This was one of the biggest tournaments to be hosted in the competition’s near-100-year history, spanning three countries. Next time, it will be another three nations taking on hosting responsibilities, but this time spanning two continents.

For recent converts in the US, the thought of traveling to a World Cup probably hasn’t crossed the mind as a potential holiday plan. That may now change after the explosion in popularity of soccer in the states.

Any of Spain, Portugal or Morocco make for unreal holiday destinations. Combine that with a passionate fanbase, beautiful weather and delicious food, and there’s reason to be excited.

Advertisement

The unique three-nation layout for 2030 represents a historic compromise. Initially, the Iberian bid faced stiff competition from a sentimental South American proposal aiming to celebrate the tournament’s centenary where it all began in 1930.

To avoid a divisive vote, FIFA negotiated an unprecedented global compromise: the opening three matches will be played in Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay, before the entire tournament shifts to its primary hosts—Spain, Portugal, and Morocco.

This landmark agreement makes 2030 the first World Cup to span three continents and six countries.

However, as the 2026 tournament concludes, the celebratory mood has been tempered by a lot of criticism of how recent events unfolded.

Advertisement

The Council of Europe raised urgent concerns regarding the integrity of the sport, fiercely criticizing FIFA for caving to political pressure after U.S. President Donald Trump reportedly called Gianni Infantino, leading to the highly controversial lifting of striker Folarin Balogun‘s red-card suspension mid-tournament.

The council warned that when rules bend for heads of state, every result is open to doubt. Furthermore, the Council strongly condemned FIFA’s new commercial partnership with the prediction market platform ADI Predictstreet.

By allowing stadium-backed betting on granular micro-events like individual passes or corners, they argue FIFA has opened a dangerous door to fraud, making it easy to manipulate minor match moments for financial gain.

The Council of Europe is now demanding a rigid, transparent integrity framework before the 2030 cycle gets underway.

Advertisement

Read more: