List of FIFA World Cup hosts

The FIFA World Cup is a big soccer tournament that happens every few years. It has been hosted by eighteen different countries in twenty-two tournaments since the first one in 1930. At first, countries were chosen at meetings, but now they are picked by a vote many years before the event.

The first World Cup was in Uruguay, but this caused some problems because it was far away, and some teams did not go. Later, the tournament moved between Europe and the Americas to keep everyone happy. Now, the host country is chosen by a vote roughly seven years before the tournament.

Only a few countries have hosted the World Cup more than once: Mexico, Italy, France, Germany, and Brazil. In 2002, the World Cup was hosted by both Japan and South Korea, and in 2026, it will be hosted by three countries: the United States, Canada, and Mexico. This will be the first time the tournament is held in three nations.

List of Host Nations

Many countries have hosted the FIFA World Cup since it began in 1930. This big soccer tournament has happened twenty-two times, with eighteen nations inviting teams from around the world to compete. In the early years, choosing a host was hard because of the long travel times between continents.

1930 FIFA World Cup

Main article: 1930 FIFA World Cup

Before the leaders of football could choose the host for the very first World Cup, several countries said they would not host. The Netherlands, Sweden, Hungary, Italy, and Spain all said no. In the end, only Uruguay was left to host.

The leaders met in Barcelona, Spain, on May 18, 1929, and chose Uruguay to host the first World Cup. The tournament happened at the same time as Uruguay’s 100th anniversary of its first constitution. The big stadium they built in Montevideo was called the Estadio Centenario.

1934 FIFA World Cup

Main article: 1934 FIFA World Cup

Italy was chosen to host the 1934 FIFA World Cup. Sweden also wanted to host but decided not to. The decision was made in Stockholm on May 14, 1932. The Italian Football Federation agreed to host the event on October 9, 1932.

1938 FIFA World Cup

Main article: 1938 FIFA World Cup

In 1936, leaders of football met in Berlin, Germany, to choose where the next World Cup would be held. They voted, and France was chosen.

Cancelled FIFA World Cups 1942 and 1946

The FIFA World Cup tournaments for 1942 and 1946 could not happen because of World War II, which began in September 1939. Some countries, such as Brazil and Germany, wanted to host these events, but the war made it impossible.

1950 and 1954 FIFA World Cups

Main articles: 1950 FIFA World Cup and 1954 FIFA World Cup

1950 bid

Brazil and Germany both wanted to host the 1942 World Cup, but it could not happen because of World War II. Later, Brazil was chosen to host the 1950 World Cup at a meeting in Luxembourg City on July 26, 1946. The tournament was moved from 1949 to 1950 after this choice.

1954 bid

Switzerland was chosen to host the 1954 World Cup at the same meeting in Luxembourg City on July 26, 1946. The next day, FIFA decided the tournament would be in 1954 instead of an earlier year.

1958 FIFA World Cup

Main articles: 1958 FIFA World Cup § Host selection, and 1958 FIFA World Cup

Some countries wanted to host the tournament. These countries were Argentina, Chile, Mexico, and Sweden. Sweden was chosen to host the 1958 tournament. This happened on June 23, 1950.

1962 FIFA World Cup

Main article: 1962 FIFA World Cup

In 1956, Chile and Argentina both wanted to host the 1962 FIFA World Cup. West Germany also wanted to host but decided not to. The decision was made in Lisbon, Portugal, on June 10, 1956. Chile was chosen after one round of voting.

1966 FIFA World Cup

Main article: 1966 FIFA World Cup

In 1960, many countries wanted to host the FIFA World Cup. Spain decided not to try anymore. The final choice was made in Rome, Italy, on August 22, 1960. England was chosen to host the tournament, getting 34 votes. West Germany got 27 votes. Spain had stopped trying to host before the vote.

1970 FIFA World Cup

Main article: 1970 FIFA World Cup

Bids

The FIFA Congress met in Tokyo, Japan, on October 8, 1964, to choose the host for the 1970 World Cup. Mexico was selected to host the tournament, winning the vote against Argentina.

Results:

1. Mexico, 56 votes
2. Argentina, 32 votes

1974, 1978, 1982 FIFA World Cups

Main articles: 1974 FIFA World Cup, 1978 FIFA World Cup, and 1982 FIFA World Cup

The hosts for the 1974, 1978, and 1982 World Cups were chosen in London, England on July 6, 1966. Leaders of FIFA made the choice there. Spain and West Germany agreed to take turns hosting. Germany chose not to host in 1982, and Spain chose not to host in 1974. This way, each country could have a turn. Mexico, who hosted in 1970, agreed to let Argentina host in 1978 instead.

1986 FIFA World Cup

Main articles: 1986 FIFA World Cup and Colombian withdrawal from the 1986 FIFA World Cup

Colombia was picked to host the 1986 FIFA World Cup. The choice was made in 1974 in Stockholm, Sweden.

But Colombia later decided not to host. They had money problems and safety worries, and they couldn’t finish building the stadiums on time.

FIFA asked other countries to host. Canada, Mexico, and the United States said they could host. In 1983, FIFA met again in Stockholm. Mexico was chosen to host the World Cup. This was the first time the host was chosen by everyone who voted.

1990 FIFA World Cup

Main article: 1990 FIFA World Cup

In 1984, some countries wanted to host the 1990 FIFA World Cup. Italy and the Soviet Union were the last two. On May 19, 1984, in Zürich, Italy got more votes and was chosen to host the tournament.

The voting was:

1. Italy, 11 votes
2. Soviet Union, 5 votes
3. England withdrew
4. Greece withdrew

1994 FIFA World Cup

Main article: 1994 FIFA World Cup

Three countries wanted to host the 1994 FIFA World Cup: Brazil, Morocco, and the United States. The United States was chosen to host the tournament after a meeting in Zürich on July 4, 1988.

1998 FIFA World Cup

Main article: 1998 FIFA World Cup

In 1992, leaders chose France to host the FIFA World Cup in 1998. France got 12 votes, and Morocco got 7 votes. Switzerland also wanted to host but decided not to continue.

2002 FIFA World Cup

Main article: 2002 FIFA World Cup

The 2002 FIFA World Cup was special because it was held in two countries at the same time. South Korea and Japan worked together to host the tournament. South Korea had the opening match, and Japan had the final match. The two countries originally wanted to host alone but decided to team up. This made things a bit tricky because the countries are far apart and had different ways of organizing. FIFA, the group that runs the World Cup, said after this that having two countries host together was not likely to happen again. But the rule changed, and the 2026 World Cup will be in three countries: the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

2006 FIFA World Cup

Main article: 2006 FIFA World Cup

Further information: List of 2006 FIFA World Cup controversies

Bids

•  England
•  Germany
•  Morocco
•  South Africa
•  Brazil

On 6 July 2000, leaders met in Zürich to choose the host for the tournament. Brazil had dropped out before the vote, leaving four countries to compete. This was the first time the voting took more than one round. After three rounds of voting, Germany won by just one vote over South Africa.

Controversy

Choosing Germany to host the 2006 FIFA World Cup caused some disagreement. The final vote was very close, with Germany winning by just one vote.

Some people tried to influence the voting, which made the situation difficult for the voters.

2010 FIFA World Cup

Main article: 2010 FIFA World Cup

Further information: List of 2010 FIFA World Cup controversies

The 2010 FIFA World Cup was the first World Cup to be held in Africa. On 7 July 2001, during the FIFA Congress in Buenos Aires, it was decided that the hosting would rotate among different continents, starting with Africa for 2010. Only African countries could bid to host this event.

Bids

•  Egypt
•  Morocco*
•  South Africa
•  Libya /  Tunisia withdrew

Nigeria wanted to bid but was told it could not join with other countries. Libya and Tunisia later withdrew their bids. On 15 May 2004 in Zürich, South Africa was chosen to host the tournament, beating Morocco.

2014 FIFA World Cup

Main articles: 2014 FIFA World Cup bids and 2014 FIFA World Cup

Further information: List of 2014 FIFA World Cup controversies

For the 2014 World Cup, FIFA decided it would be held in South America. Brazil wanted to host the 2014 World Cup, but Colombia decided not to. Brazil was the only country to offer to host in 2006. The group in charge of South American football said Brazil was the best choice. Brazil was chosen to host the World Cup on October 30, 2007.

Bids:

2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups

Main articles: 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cup bids, Garcia Report, 2018 FIFA World Cup, and 2022 FIFA World Cup

Further information: List of 2018 FIFA World Cup controversies and 2022 FIFA World Cup controversies

In 2007, FIFA changed its rules about which countries could host the World Cup. Now, any country could apply if their part of the world hadn’t hosted the last two World Cups. Countries could also team up to host together.

Many countries wanted to host the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. These included Australia, England, Japan, Qatar, Russia, South Korea, the United States, and teams from Spain-Portugal and Belgium-Netherlands.

In 2010, FIFA chose Russia to host the 2018 World Cup. This was the first time the World Cup was in Eastern Europe and in such a big country. Qatar was chosen to host the 2022 World Cup. This was the first World Cup in an Arab country and only the second time it was held in Asia.

2026 FIFA World Cup

Main article: 2026 FIFA World Cup bids

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be in three countries: Canada, Mexico, and the United States. This will be the first time three countries host together.

Mexico will host the men’s World Cup for the third time. Canada will host both the men’s and women’s World Cups for the first time. The United States will host both the men’s and women’s tournaments again. The host was chosen in 2018 in Moscow, Russia.

2030 FIFA World Cup

Main article: 2030 FIFA World Cup

Some countries want to host the 2030 FIFA World Cup. Uruguay and Argentina offered to host together. Because of rules, the 2030 World Cup cannot be in Asia or North America.

Later, Spain, Portugal, and Morocco were picked to host most of the games in 2030. Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay will each host one special match to celebrate big events.

2034 FIFA World Cup

Main article: 2034 FIFA World Cup

The race to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup started on October 4, 2023. Only teams from the Asian Football Confederation and Oceania Football Confederation can host, because of FIFA's rules. The time for teams to say they wanted to host ended on October 31, 2023.

At first, many countries in Southeast Asia planned to work together to host. Some countries like Malaysia stopped, but others kept trying. Saudi Arabia also chose to host by itself. Many countries from all over the world have shown support for Saudi Arabia's bid.

2038 FIFA World Cup

In May 2025, a FIFA leader said England might host the 2038 FIFA World Cup alone or with other countries in the United Kingdom. That same month, reports said New Zealand was thinking about hosting with Fiji and the United States. In March 2026, a minister from Latvia talked about the idea of several countries in the Baltic-Nordic region and the Lublin Triangle co-hosting the tournament. In April 2026, Germany and Italy both showed interest in hosting the 2038 World Cup.

If the current hosting rules stay the same, only certain groups of countries could bid for the 2038 World Cup. Right now, Europe, Africa, and South America are planning to co-host in 2030, and Asia will host in 2034. But FIFA has not yet confirmed this.

Possible bidding

• UEFA:

  • United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland)
  • Latvia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Sweden, Ukraine
  • Germany
  • Italy

• CONCACAF:

  • Canada, United States, and Mexico

• OFC–AFC:

  • New Zealand, Fiji, Australia, and Indonesia

• OFC–CONCACAF:

  • New Zealand, Fiji, and United States

2042 FIFA World Cup

In July 2025, reports said that Japan might want to host the 2042 or 2046 World Cup, maybe together with other countries in East Asia or ASEAN.

In April 2026, the DFB shared that Germany could bid to host the 2038 or 2042 World Cup.

Possible bidding

• UEFA:

  •  Germany

• AFC:

  •  Japan

Total bids by country

World Cup bids that won are shown in bold. Bids that were considered by FIFA but later withdrawn are shown in italics. Bids for tournaments that were not organized are crossed out. We do not include bids that were rejected or plans for future tournaments.

Host country performances

Further information: National team appearances in the FIFA World Cup

When a country hosts the FIFA World Cup, its team often plays better than expected. This is called home advantage. In many tournaments, the host country has done very well. Some hosts have even won the World Cup while hosting. England won its only title as a host. Sweden reached its only final when it hosted. Chile and South Korea reached their best positions at home. Mexico (twice) and Russia also did well while hosting. South Africa and Qatar were the only hosts who did not move past the first round.