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 taken place in twenty-two different events, with eighteen nations welcoming the world to compete. In the early years, deciding who would host was tricky 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 decided not to host. The Netherlands said no, then Sweden said no and chose to support Italy. After that, Hungary also said no. Finally, both Italy and Spain said no, leaving only Uruguay as the possible host.

The leaders met in Barcelona, Spain, on May 18, 1929, and chose Uruguay to host the first World Cup without needing a vote. The tournament happened at the same time as Uruguay’s 100th anniversary of its first constitution, so 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 had also wanted to host but decided not to compete for the opportunity. The decision was made during a meeting 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 after just one round, France won with most of the votes.

The countries that wanted to host were:

Cancelled FIFA World Cups 1942 and 1946

The FIFA World Cup tournaments planned for 1942 and 1946 were cancelled because of the World War II that started in September 1939. Countries like Brazil and Germany had shown interest to host these events, but the war made it impossible to hold them.

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 was cancelled because of World War II. Later, Brazil was chosen to host the 1950 World Cup during a meeting in Luxembourg City on July 26, 1946. The tournament was moved from 1949 to 1950 after this decision.

1954 bid

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

1958 FIFA World Cup

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

Argentina, Chile, Mexico, and Sweden wanted to host the tournament. Sweden was chosen to host the 1958 tournament without any other country competing 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 continue. The decision was made in Lisbon, Portugal, on June 10, 1956. After one round of voting, Chile was chosen with 32 votes, while Argentina received 11 votes. West Germany had already withdrawn from the competition.

1966 FIFA World Cup

Main article: 1966 FIFA World Cup

In 1960, several countries wanted to host the FIFA World Cup. Spain decided not to continue trying to host. The final decision was made in Rome, Italy, on August 22, 1960. England was chosen to host the tournament, receiving 34 votes, while West Germany got 27 votes. Spain had withdrawn from the bidding 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 decide where the 1970 World Cup would be held. Mexico was chosen to host the tournament, beating Argentina in the vote.

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, during a meeting of FIFA leaders. Spain and West Germany agreed to take turns hosting these events. Germany decided not to host in 1982, and Spain decided not to host in 1974, which made sure each country would get a turn. Mexico, who had been chosen to host 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 chosen to host the 1986 FIFA World Cup. The decision was made in 1974 by FIFA's leadership group in Stockholm, Sweden.

However, Colombia later decided not to host the event. This happened because of money problems, safety concerns, and delays in building needed stadiums.

FIFA then asked other countries to host. Three nations said they wanted to: Canada, Mexico, and the United States. In 1983, FIFA again met in Stockholm. This time, Mexico was chosen to host the World Cup, and they were picked by everyone who voted. This was the first time a host was chosen this way in World Cup history.

1990 FIFA World Cup

Main article: 1990 FIFA World Cup

In 1984, several countries wanted to host the 1990 FIFA World Cup. Italy and the Soviet Union were the final contenders. During a meeting in Zürich on May 19, 1984, Italy received more votes than the Soviet Union and was chosen to host the tournament.

The voting results were as follows:

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 decision was made quickly in one vote during a meeting in Zürich on July 4, 1988. The United States received the most votes and was chosen to host the tournament.

The voting results were:

1. United States, 10 votes
2. Morocco, 7 votes
3. Brazil, 2 votes

1998 FIFA World Cup

Main article: 1998 FIFA World Cup

In 1992, leaders decided that France would host the FIFA World Cup in 1998. They voted, and France won with 12 votes, while Morocco got 7 votes. Switzerland had 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 the first time the tournament was held in two countries at once. South Korea and Japan worked together to host the event. South Korea held the opening match, and Japan held the final match. Originally, the two countries were competing to host the World Cup alone, but they decided to team up just before the final decision. This co-hosting caused some challenges because the countries are far apart and had different ways of organizing things. FIFA, the group that runs the World Cup, said after this event that having two countries host together was not likely to happen again. However, this rule was later changed, and the 2026 World Cup will be hosted by 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. One member of the voting group changed their mind at the last moment, which made the decision even tighter.

Some people tried to influence the voting by offering gifts, which made the situation very difficult for the voters. Later, FIFA decided to change how they would choose future hosts, but this plan was also changed again in later years.

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 also 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. At first, FIFA thought about not following this rule, but then chose to keep it for this event.

Bids:

Brazil wanted to host the 2014 World Cup, as did Colombia, but Colombia later decided not to. Brazil was the only country to officially offer to host when the time came in 2006. The group in charge of South American football said Brazil was the best choice. The group that picks the host country chose Brazil to host the World Cup on October 30, 2007, and everyone agreed.

Result:

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 as long as 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, including 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 hosted by three countries: Canada, Mexico, and the United States. This will be the first time that more than two countries host the tournament together.

Mexico will become the first country to host the men's World Cup three times, and Canada will be the fifth country to host both the men's and women's World Cups. The United States will host both the men's and women's tournaments for the second time each. The host was chosen in 2018 during a meeting in Moscow, Russia.

2030 FIFA World Cup

Main article: 2030 FIFA World Cup

Several countries have shown interest in hosting the 2030 FIFA World Cup. A joint bid from Uruguay and Argentina was one of the first proposals. Because of FIFA rules, the 2030 World Cup could not be held in Asia or North America, as those areas recently hosted the event.

Later, Spain, Portugal, and Morocco were chosen to host most of the games in 2030. Each of Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay will host one special match to celebrate important anniversaries.

2034 FIFA World Cup

Main article: 2034 FIFA World Cup

The race to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup began on October 4, 2023. Only teams from the Asian Football Confederation and Oceania Football Confederation can host due to FIFA's rules. The deadline for teams to show interest in hosting was October 31, 2023.

The first idea was for many countries in Southeast Asia to work together to host. Some countries like Malaysia stopped, but others kept going. Saudi Arabia also decided to host on its own. Many countries from around the world have shown support for Saudi Arabia's bid.

2038 FIFA World Cup

In May 2025, a FIFA leader said that 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

Usually, the country hosting the FIFA World Cup plays better than expected. This is called home advantage. In 13 out of the 22 World Cup tournaments, the host country made it to the last four teams. Out of the eight teams that have won the World Cup, all except Brazil and Spain won it while they were hosting the event. England won its only title as hosts. Sweden reached its only final when it hosted the tournament. Chile and South Korea reached their only semi-finals at home. Mexico (twice) and Russia reached their best positions while hosting. South Africa and Qatar are the only hosts who did not move past the first round.