Future host locations for the men's FIFA World Cup after 2026
Jul 19, 2026
And that’s a wrap on the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
After 104 games, nearly 300 goals and Spain topping Argentina to become champions out of 48 teams, the tournament came to a close.
The next World Cup will actually be the 2027 women’s competition in Brazil next summer. But the next men’s tour
nament is now another four years away.
So, where does the future of the tournament lie after being held across the U.S., Mexico and Canada? Here’s everything to know so far:
2030 World Cup: Spain, Portugal, Morocco, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay
Believe it or not, the number of “hosts” for the next tournament is double that of 2026. There will be six nations staging games, and three different continents are involved.
Spain, Portugal and Morocco are confirmed to host the majority of the games, so southern Europe and northern Africa will be in the spotlight.
And because this tournament will be the 100-year anniversary of the first ever World Cup, Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay will each host one “celebratory game.”
Uruguay and Argentina initially launched the first bid in 2017, but eventually FIFA President Gianni Infantino favored the trio of Spain, Portugal and Morocco in 2019. But through this six-country method, every nation is satisfied in some capacity.
2034 World Cup: Saudi Arabia
Due to FIFA’s confederation rotation policy for the tournament, the 2034 edition could only be hosted by a team in Asia or Oceania. Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan discussed a joint bid that ultimately was abandoned, as well as a 10-plus-team Southeast Asian bid that included Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam and more.
New Zealand also pushed for a bid on the Oceania side, with Australia and Indonesia involved in possible joint efforts. Ultimately, Saudi Arabia continued its mission to grow in the sports world by running unopposed to earn the rights as New Zealand dropped off. It will be Saudi Arabia’s first time as hosts.
The tournament will likely be played in the winter due to the extreme heat in the region, similar to Qatar 2022. However, Ramadan is in November and December of 2033 and 2034, so early 2035 could also be a possibility as things are fluid.
2038 World Cup: TBD
No host is currently confirmed for the 2038 tournament, which is still a decade away. If the current rotation model is applied, Concacaf or Oceania regions may be first in line due to three continents being involved in 2030, though it’s not exactly clear how that’d work yet.
That means another U.S.-Mexico-Canada World Cup could reoccur if approved, though no country — or countries, in this case — has ever hosted two World Cups in the span of just 12 years.
A report in 2025 said that New Zealand may return to the picture with a joint bid, with Fiji and the U.S. in the mix. Germany has also announced interest in either 2038 or 2042, though it is awaiting more concrete details from FIFA.
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