Sports
2030 World Cup: Tournament to hold across six countries in three continents
2030 World Cup: Tournament to hold across six countries in three continents
THE 2030 World Cup will be held across six countries in three continents, Fifa has confirmed.
Spain, Portugal and Morocco have been named as the co-hosts, with the opening three matches taking place in Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay.
The opening matches in South America are to mark the World Cup’s centenary as it will be 100 years since the inaugural tournament in Montevideo.
The decision is set to be ratified at a Fifa congress next year.
Fifa also confirmed only bids from countries from the Asian Football Confederation and the Oceania Football Confederation will be considered for the 2034 finals.
Following that decision, Saudi Arabia announced it would be bidding to host the tournament in 2034 for the first time.
Fifa’s decision to host the tournament across multiple continents has drawn criticism, with one supporter’s body accusing football’s world governing body of engaging in a “cycle of destruction against the greatest tournament on Earth”.
“[It’s] horrendous for supporters, disregards the environment and rolls the red carpet out to a host for 2034 with an appalling human rights record. It’s the end of the World Cup as we know it,” said Football Supporters Europe.
Fifa president Gianni Infantino said: “In a divided world, Fifa and football are uniting.
“The Fifa Council, representing the entire world of football, unanimously agreed to celebrate the centenary of the Fifa World Cup, whose first edition was played in Uruguay in 1930, in the most appropriate way.
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“In 2030, we will have a unique global footprint, three continents – Africa, Europe and South America – six countries – Argentina, Morocco, Paraguay, Portugal, Spain and Uruguay – welcoming and uniting the world while celebrating together the beautiful game, the centenary and the Fifa World Cup.”
Montevideo in Uruguay, the city which hosted the first World Cup match in 1930, is poised to stage the opening game in 2030 with matches in Argentina and Paraguay to follow.
The rest of the 48-team tournament will then move to north Africa and Europe.
The change of hemispheres means World Cup teams could find themselves playing in two different seasons at the same tournament.
If the 2030 proposal is approved, Morocco would become only the second African nation to host a World Cup, after South Africa in 2010.
Spain has been named as joint-host weeks after former football federation chief Luis Rubiales resigned following criticism for kissing Jenni Hermoso at the Women’s World Cup.
Appearing in court, Rubiales was given a restraining order by a Spanish judge, but denied sexually assaulting Hermoso.
Spain last hosted the World Cup in 1982, with Italy winning the tournament for the third time.
Portugal has never hosted the tournament, but Euro 2004 was held there.
As in previous World Cups, Uruguay, Argentina, Paraguay, Spain, Portugal and Morocco will all qualify automatically as co-hosts.
Fifa’s decision to host the tournament across multiple continents comes after the governing body ‘made false statements’ about the reduced environmental impact of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Fifa said the tournament would be the first “fully carbon-neutral World Cup” but could not provide proof the claims were accurate.
In November, BBC Sport reported how environmentalists called Fifa’s carbon-neutral claim “dangerous and misleading” and warned the tournament could have had a carbon footprint three times greater than stated.
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Freddie Daley, a researcher for Global Economy Policy at the University of Sussex, says Fifa’s decision to expand the World Cup across three continents is “concerning” after its false promises on reducing carbon footprint.
“A World Cup of this size and scale will involve a lot of air travel, a lot of fan travel, a lot of athlete travel and I am very unsure whether Fifa will be able to deliver this in a sustainable and climate friendly way,” said Daley.
“I think Fifa’s actions so far point towards them not being very credible on what they have promised to do in regards to climate and climate action.
“Fifa as an organisation has huge responsibility to citizens around the world to help educate on climate, raise awareness and also bring them on that journey to net zero as part of the energy transition.
“Announcements like this today make me question their integrity on climate and their support for the energy transition.”
Frank Huisingh, founder of Fossil Free Football, a group aiming to stop the use of fossil fuels in the sport, said the move was “outrageous but also not surprising”.
“We know Fifa’s track record and we know they want to go for big tournaments with a lot of fan travel and a lot of emissions,” he said.
“It is just a very bad idea.”
“This is Fifa showing complete disregard for fans as fans and fans as humans,” said Katie Cross, CEO and founder of Pledgeball, a fan charity which campaigns for greater sustainability in football.
Saudi Arabia’s decision to bid for the 2034 World Cup is in line with its initiative to become a global leader in sport after hosting a number of events in the country since 2018, involving football, Formula 1, golf and boxing.
But the Gulf kingdom has been accused of investing in sport and using high-profile events to improve its international reputation – a process known as sportswashing.
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In a recent interview with Fox News, Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said he does not care about the accusations.
“If sportswashing is going to increase my GDP by 1%, then we’ll continue doing sportswashing,” Bin Salman said.
Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki bin Faisal, Saudi Arabia’s Olympic and Paralympic chief, says the World Cup bid “constitutes an important and natural step in our journey as a country passionate about football”.
Fifa also announced Russia will be readmitted to its under-17 competitions for the first time since the country’s invasion of Ukraine 19 months ago.
The move follows Uefa’s decision last week to allow Russian sides to compete at U17 level in European competitions after they were suspended when the invasion began in February 2022.
Fifa said the decision will be conditional on teams playing as the “Football Union of Russia” rather than Russia, without the country’s flag or anthem, and wearing a neutral kit.
Uefa’s move drew criticism from the English Football Association which said it “did not support” the decision, adding “our position remains that England teams won’t play against Russia”.
But Uefa said boys and girls should not be punished for the actions of adults, adding in a statement: “Football should never give up sending messages of peace and hope.”
BBC
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Sports
Tragedy: Spanish Footballer Jesús de Miguel Dies at 30 After On-Field Collision
Spanish footballer Jesús de Miguel has died at the age of 30 after suffering a cardiac arrest following a collision with an opposing goalkeeper during a league match involving his club, CD Tenerife.
The striker died on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, at a hospital in Tenerife, Spain, a day after he collapsed during his team’s encounter against FC Andorra in the Spanish second division.
The incident occurred in the closing stages of Monday’s match at the Heliodoro Rodríguez López Stadium, with both teams level at 2-2.
De Miguel was chasing a long ball towards the middle of the pitch when FC Andorra goalkeeper Jesús Owono rushed out of his penalty area to intercept it. The goalkeeper collided with the forward, striking him in the chest with his knee.
De Miguel immediately fell to the ground, prompting players from both teams to call for urgent medical assistance. Owono was shown a straight red card following the collision.
Medical personnel rushed onto the pitch and administered emergency treatment to the injured footballer before he was transported to hospital by ambulance.
During the journey, De Miguel suffered a cardiac arrest, but medical personnel reportedly managed to restore his pulse through emergency resuscitation.
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He was subsequently admitted to the intensive care unit of Hospital Universitario Nuestra Señora de Candelaria in Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
CD Tenerife initially described his condition as stable despite the seriousness of his injuries. However, a subsequent medical update indicated that his neurological condition had deteriorated.
He died at approximately 8:00 a.m. local time on Tuesday.
Announcing his death, CD Tenerife expressed profound sorrow over the loss of the striker and extended condolences to his family, friends, teammates and supporters.
The club also appealed for respect for the privacy of his family during the difficult period.
The tragedy has prompted a police investigation into the circumstances surrounding the footballer’s death, including possible involuntary manslaughter under Spanish law.
Authorities explained that such proceedings are routinely initiated when a death is considered non-natural. The investigation does not, in itself, establish criminal responsibility on the part of anyone involved in the collision.
Meanwhile, the incident has triggered an outpouring of condolences across the football community.
Spanish football giants, including Real Madrid, Barcelona and Atlético Madrid, expressed sympathy to Tenerife and De Miguel’s family.
FC Andorra also paid tribute to the deceased player, while the club’s president and former Barcelona defender, Gerard Piqué, expressed his condolences.
The Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) postponed matches scheduled for Tuesday in the Copa del Rey and Copa de la Reina as a mark of respect.
The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) also announced that matches across its competitions would observe a minute of silence in memory of the late footballer.
De Miguel joined Tenerife from Castellón ahead of the 2025–2026 season.
Born in Madrid in 1996, he built his career across several Spanish clubs, including Leganés B, Fuenlabrada, Unionistas de Salamanca and Castellón.
He scored 11 goals during the previous season and helped Castellón secure promotion to Spain’s second division.
His death has left teammates, supporters and members of the Spanish football community mourning the loss of a player whose career was cut short by the tragic incident.
Tragedy: Spanish Footballer Jesús de Miguel Dies at 30 After On-Field Collision
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Sports
Super Falcons Receive $100,000 Each as Tinubu Finally Fulfils WAFCON Pledge
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has fulfilled his financial reward promise to Nigeria’s Super Falcons, with each player receiving the naira equivalent of $100,000 following the team’s historic triumph at the 2025 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).
Members of the coaching crew and other team officials have also received the naira equivalent of $50,000 each, completing the cash component of the presidential reward package announced after Nigeria won its record-extending 10th continental title.
The National Sports Commission (NSC) confirmed the payments on Monday, November 2, 2026, describing the development as the fulfilment of the President’s financial commitment to the national women’s football team.
The payment brings an end to the outstanding cash component of the reward package, which Tinubu announced during a presidential reception held in honour of the team on July 28, 2025.
Following their historic achievement, the President had promised each of the 24 players the naira equivalent of $100,000, while members of the 11-person technical team were to receive $50,000 each.
He also conferred the national honour of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) on the players and technical crew and approved the allocation of three-bedroom apartments in Abuja to members of the team.
The housing documents and national honours certificates had earlier been presented to the beneficiaries, leaving the cash payments as the outstanding component of the presidential pledge.
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Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Shehu Dikko, commended Tinubu for honouring his commitment, describing the fulfilment of the reward package as an important development for Nigerian sports.
Dikko said the Super Falcons had made the country proud and deserved recognition for their achievement, adding that the timely delivery of the promised rewards would strengthen confidence among Nigerian athletes.
He also acknowledged the cooperation between the NSC and the Ministries of Finance, Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, and Housing and Urban Development in ensuring the delivery of the presidential commitments.
According to him, the development represents a departure from previous experiences in which Nigerian athletes sometimes waited several years for government promises made after major international competitions to be fulfilled.
Dikko urged Nigerian athletes to draw encouragement from the development and remain committed to representing the country, assuring them that their sacrifices and achievements deserved recognition.
The Super Falcons earned the historic reward after producing a remarkable comeback against hosts Morocco in the final of the 2025 WAFCON.
Nigeria had fallen two goals behind but fought back to secure a dramatic 3-2 victory in Rabat in July 2025, reclaiming the continental crown and extending its record as the most successful country in the history of the women’s African football championship.
The victory marked Nigeria’s 10th WAFCON title and further cemented the Super Falcons’ dominance in African women’s football.
Tinubu’s fulfilment of the promise follows a similar development involving Nigeria’s senior women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, whose players received the naira equivalent of $100,000 each in September 2026 after winning the 2025 Women’s AfroBasket championship.
The basketball players also received three-bedroom apartment allocation documents and OON national honours as part of their presidential reward package.
The latest development reinforces the Federal Government’s commitment to recognising sporting achievements and rewarding Nigerian athletes who bring international honours to the country.
Editorial note: The reports give different estimates of the naira equivalent of the $100,000 reward. The article therefore retains the officially stated dollar-equivalent amount without presenting an unconfirmed naira figure as the exact payment.
Super Falcons Receive $100,000 Each as Tinubu Finally Fulfils WAFCON Pledge
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Sports
EPL: Chelsea Hand Manchester United 2-0 Defeat to Deepen Carrick’s Crisis
Chelsea compounded Manchester United’s difficult start to the season with a 2-0 victory at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, leaving manager Michael Carrick under mounting pressure as the Red Devils’ winless run stretched to nine matches in all competitions.
Goals from Morgan Rogers and Cole Palmer secured the victory for Chelsea, who moved provisionally into fourth place on the Premier League table with 16 points from nine matches.
Manchester United, meanwhile, remained in 16th position with seven points, just one point above the relegation zone, after suffering another damaging defeat.
The result further intensified scrutiny of Carrick, whose side have now gone nine games without a victory, recording six defeats and three draws during the run. It is the club’s longest winless sequence in all competitions since the 1988-89 season.
Despite the final scoreline, Manchester United began the encounter with some attacking promise and created opportunities to take the lead.
The visitors thought they had broken the deadlock through Matheus Cunha, but the effort was ruled out for offside. Chelsea also had a first-half goal from young forward Estêvão Willian disallowed for the same reason.
United continued to threaten, with Bruno Fernandes, Amad Diallo and Cunha involved in promising attacking moves, but they failed to convert their opportunities.
Chelsea eventually took control shortly after the restart when Rogers produced an impressive individual effort to put the hosts ahead in the 50th minute.
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The forward collected a pass from Roméo Lavia, drove towards the United defence and worked his way past Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martínez before lifting the ball over goalkeeper Senne Lammens.
The goal shifted the momentum in Chelsea’s favour, while Manchester United’s task became considerably more difficult when Martínez was sent off in the 63rd minute.
The Argentine defender received a second yellow card following an incident in which he appeared to elbow Chelsea defender Wesley Fofana. The decision followed a review by the match officials.
Chelsea were awarded a penalty from the incident, and Palmer converted from the spot in the 64th minute to double the hosts’ advantage.
The goal effectively ended United’s hopes of mounting a comeback, particularly after they were reduced to 10 players.
Chelsea continued to search for more goals, with Estêvão having another effort ruled out for offside. Manchester United also threatened late in the encounter, but Bryan Mbeumo struck the crossbar during stoppage time.
The victory provided Chelsea with a much-needed boost after consecutive defeats in the league and cup, while strengthening their position among the early contenders for a top-four finish.
For Manchester United, however, the defeat raised further questions about the team’s direction and Carrick’s ability to halt the alarming decline.
With the club struggling to turn performances into victories, pressure is expected to increase on the manager as the season progresses.
Chelsea will next travel to face Sunderland on November 8, while Manchester United are scheduled to visit Aston Villa on the same day.
EPL: Chelsea Hand Manchester United 2-0 Defeat to Deepen Carrick’s Crisis
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