The trend may be surprising, with its rules of the game often very unclear, but it is gaining strength: when it comes to applications for major events, the sports movement no longer wants a loser. The IOC opened the way, in 2017, with its double vote for the Summer Games in 2024 and 2028. FIFA has just widened the breach further, without holding back its blows.
The international football body revealed, on Wednesday October 4, the host countries of the Men's World Cup in 2030. We expected three or four, without really knowing whether they would be South American (Argentina, Chile, Uruguay and Paraguay), in recognition of the history of the tournament, or rather from an alliance between Europe and North Africa (Spain, Portugal and Morocco). FIFA pulled six out of its huge hat.
For the first time since its creation, the World Cup will be played in 2030 in six countries and on three continents. Disregarding environmental priorities, the 104 matches of the competition will be divided between Europe – Spain and Portugal – Africa – Morocco – and South America – Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay.
Like the IOC, keen not to create a loser between Paris and Los Angeles, FIFA has chosen not to send (almost) anyone away empty-handed and in pain. The trio of Spain, Portugal and Morocco inherits the thickest part of the pie. With 101 matches out of the 104 in the tournament, he won the game. But the three South American nations, whose file was preceded by its rival, are not forgotten. In exchange for their renunciation, they will receive the first three matches. A very unexpected way to save face and be able to celebrate the centenary of an event born in 1930 in Montevideo, Uruguay.
« The first of these three matches will, of course, be played at the stadium where it all began, the legendary Estadio Centenario in Montevideo, precisely to celebrate the hundredth edition of the World Cup., Gianni Infantino has already said.
The FIFA press release assures us: this formula, never before imagined in the sporting movement, has made “ unanimity” among the members of the Council of the body. Technical details are not yet known. They look complex. And the official award will not be made before the end of 2024. But the matter is over. It will no longer be called into question, despite the avalanche of questions and doubts raised by such a project, particularly in terms of logistics, costs and sports programming.
A detail that is anything but trivial: like the three real host countries – Spain, Portugal and Morocco – the three South American nations are guaranteed to participate in the 2030 World Cup. FIFA clarified on Thursday October 5 that they will have their ticket without passing it. by qualifications.
At the time of the accounts, the formula imagined by FIFA only resulted in one loser, out of the seven applicants selected for the final round. Chile, long associated with Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay within the South American alliance, was forgotten when the prizes were distributed.
As for Ukraine, for a moment integrated into the project of Spain and Portugal, it had already abandoned the race, replaced by Morocco last mid-March. With it, the World Cup would have taken place on two continents. With Morocco, he will cross three. At the risk of getting lost.
