The 2030 World Cup hosts are due to be picked in September 2024, FIFA said on Tuesday, also confirming that the three 2026 World Cup hosts — the United States, Canada and Mexico — all had their expected automatic entries confirmed in the 48-team finals tournament.
FIFA’s ruling council confirmed a timetable for 2030 bidding and a vote to be held in the third quarter of next year by around 200 member federations.
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FIFA has long targeted a decision in 2024 for the tournament that is currently scheduled to have 48 teams.
A separate election meeting will be held earlier in 2024 to pick a host for the 2027 Women’s World Cup, football’s governing body said.
The 2026 World Cup will be the first edition expanded from the 32-team tournament that was introduced in 1998.
FIFA also picked Saudi Arabia — a potential candidate in the 2030 contest — to host the next Club World Cup from Dec. 12-22 in the latest addition to the kingdom’s sports hosting ambitions.
In the 2030 hosting race, co-hosting bids from South America and Europe have been the expected favorites, with Morocco also in the picture and speculation about a Saudi-led and unprecedented three-continent project.
The inaugural 1930 World Cup host, Uruguay, is part of a centenary bid…
