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What's Next for the World Cup? A Look at 2030, 2034, and Beyond

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  Published in Sports and Competition on Wednesday, December 3rd 2025 at 20:11 GMT by Sporting News

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What’s Next for the World Cup? A Look at 2030, 2034, and Beyond

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be a landmark event, featuring 48 teams in the first edition of the expanded format. With the 2026 winners – the United States, Canada, and Mexico – already announced, the football world has turned its eyes to the future of the tournament. A recent Sporting News article explores the candidates and timelines for the next four World Cup editions, starting with the 2030 tournament that will be hosted by an unprecedented joint bid from six European nations.

2030: Europe’s Largest Joint Bid Yet

In a historic decision, FIFA’s Executive Committee voted on a six‑nation consortium that will host the 2030 World Cup. The bid brings together Spain, Portugal, France, Belgium, Croatia, and Italy. The group promised a broad geographic spread, extensive infrastructure, and a collective pool of over 20 stadiums that will comfortably accommodate the 48‑team format.

Key points that shaped the decision include:

• Infrastructure readiness – All six countries already have world‑class stadiums and transport networks, eliminating costly construction.
• Economic viability – A consortium reduces individual costs while spreading tourism revenue across a larger region.
• Fan experience – Multiple cities and stadiums allow fans to travel across borders for matches, adding a unique “European Tour” element to the tournament.

FIFA officials highlighted that the decision was also intended to showcase the continent’s unity and footballing heritage. The 2030 hosts are expected to host matches in a variety of venues, from the iconic Camp Nou in Barcelona to the modern Stade Vélodrome in Marseille and the historic San Siro in Milan. The joint bid will also feature a rotating host city model, ensuring a balanced distribution of matches.

2034: Still a Hotbed of Speculation

The next edition, the 2034 World Cup, remains undecided, with FIFA aiming to finalize the host by the end of 2025. The article outlines several promising scenarios:

1. South America Return – A joint bid featuring Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay would bring the tournament back to the continent’s football heartland. Brazil’s experience with the 2014 and 2018 World Cups, combined with Argentina’s and Uruguay’s historic ties to the sport, could create a compelling bid.

2. North America’s Comeback – While the 2026 joint bid (USA/Canada/Mexico) was successful, the possibility of a second North American hosting package, perhaps with the United States and Mexico re‑joining, was mentioned. The U.S. would bring a strong infrastructure and media market, while Mexico’s passionate fan base and historic hosting experience would add credibility.

3. Eastern Europe or the Balkans – Countries like Poland, Czech Republic, and Slovenia could form a consortium to capitalize on rising football popularity in Central Europe. Their combined stadiums and growing fan cultures would be attractive to FIFA’s growth agenda.

FIFA is looking for a bid that can deliver high standards while supporting its long‑term strategy of expanding the game globally. The 2034 hosts will again be evaluated on criteria such as infrastructure, financial guarantees, fan experience, and the ability to promote the sport in new regions.

2038: A New Frontier?

While still in the early rumour stage, the 2038 World Cup is expected to be awarded at FIFA’s next Council meeting in 2026. The article identifies a few front‑running regions:

• The Middle East – Following Qatar’s successful 2022 hosting, there is renewed interest from countries like the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. Both have invested heavily in stadiums and transport infrastructure, and their economies could support a large‑scale event.

• South Asia – Nations such as India and Bangladesh have shown growing interest in football. A joint bid could leverage the massive population and untapped fan base, aligning with FIFA’s mission to broaden the sport’s reach.

• Central Europe – Countries such as Austria, Switzerland, and the Czech Republic could form a consortium to combine modern stadiums and a strong domestic league.

These scenarios underline FIFA’s strategy of diversifying host locations, ensuring that the World Cup reaches new markets while maintaining high organizational standards.

2042 and the Future of the Tournament

While the Sporting News article does not dive deeply into the 2042 edition, it notes that FIFA will consider several possibilities in the lead up to the 2042 announcement. Some experts speculate on the potential of Asia‑Pacific countries like Japan, South Korea, and Australia to host a joint bid, given their robust infrastructure and growing football cultures.

What This Means for the Global Game

The progression of host nation selection for the next four World Cups signals several broader trends:

1. Increased Collaboration – The 2030 joint bid illustrates FIFA’s willingness to see a single tournament shared across multiple countries. This not only spreads costs but also promotes cross‑border fan engagement.

2. Focus on Expansion – The inclusion of more nations in bidding reflects FIFA’s push to grow football’s popularity in untapped markets.

3. Economic and Social Impact – Hosting the World Cup remains a powerful catalyst for economic development, tourism, and national pride. The new host nations are expected to deliver long‑term benefits through infrastructure upgrades and increased global visibility.

Final Thoughts

With 2030 already set to be a uniquely European affair, the football community is keenly watching the developments for 2034 and beyond. The Sporting News article offers a comprehensive snapshot of the current speculation, outlining the key candidates, their strengths, and the criteria that will shape FIFA’s decisions. As the organization’s council continues to evaluate bids, one thing remains clear: the World Cup will continue to evolve, not only in format but also in the way it brings the world together for a shared celebration of sport.