Morocco, Portugal and Spain will co-host the 2030 FIFA World Cup, football's world governing body have announced, noting that to mark the 100-year anniversary since the first-ever competition (the first edition was in Uruguay in 1930) three games will be played in South America, in Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay respectively, with the opening ceremony and game at the Estadio Centenario in Montevideo.

“In a divided world, football and FIFA are uniting," said FIFA President Gianni Infantino. "In 2030, we will hold a unique global footprint: three continents (Africa, Europe and South America) and 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.”

It has also been agreed that, in line with the system of rotating confederations, the procedure for submitting candidacy for the 2030 and 2034 editions will be made at the same time, with the federations affiliated to FIFA in the territories of AFC (Asian confederation) and OFC (Oceania confederation) invited to present themselves as hosts for the 2034 FIFA World Cup.

RUSSIAN YOUTH TEAMS ALLOWED TO PLAY. Following UEFA's decision on 26 September to allow Russia's Men's and Women's sides to compete at U17 level in European competitions, the FIFA council has approved the extension of this decision to the U17 FIFA World Cup and Women's World Cup, in which UEFA competitions act as qualification to the tournaments. The sides will have to play under the name of "Football Union of Russia" rather than Russia, without the country's flag or anthem, and wear a neutral kit. Confirming its stance on the 'illegal' war triggered by Russia on Ukraine, the FIFA council has also confirmed that the rest of the terms decided on 28 February 2022 will remain in place until the end of the conflict.