
<p>Former FIFA President Sepp Blatter delivered fiery remarks about the idea of putting the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/2030-world-cup-to-be-held-across-three-continents-says-fifa-20231004-WST-460289.html">2030 World Cup in six different countries</a>. Speaking to Swiss newspaper <em><a href="https://www.reuters.com/sports/soccer/ex-fifa-boss-blatter-slams-decision-world-cup-six-countries-paper-2023-10-08/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">SonntagsBlick</a></em> the disgraced FIFA executive said it is absurd that the current FIFA bosses are splitting the competition up. </p>



<p>He credits his frustration with the fact that a World Cup in close proximity has an identity. Dividing up one tournament across three continents, six countries and five time zones takes away any true identity.</p>



<p>“It is absurd to tear the tournament apart in this way,” Blatter said. “The World Cup finals must be a compact event.” In the five World Cups Blatter was the FIFA President, there was only one edition of joint hosts. That was the 2002 World Cup in South Korea and Japan, two geographically small nations that are close together. The 2026 and 2030 World Cups will be the most expansive competitions in the history of the tournament. </p>



<p>FIFA assured soccer fans that the 2030 World Cup will mostly be in Portugal, Spain and Morocco. However, the opening three games in Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay commemorate the 100th anniversary of the first World Cup. Blatter argues the 2030 World Cup should play out entirely in South America, not among three continents.</p>



<p>“For historical reasons, the 2030 World Cup should have belonged exclusively in South America,” he said.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The World Cup used to be simple. A country hosts it &amp; the football world goes there. Personally think 2030 should be held in South America to mark the centenary, nowhere else. But now everything seems designed to be as complicated as possible for fans.</p>— Derek Rae (@RaeComm) <a href="https://twitter.com/RaeComm/status/1709587835894808892?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 4, 2023</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<h2>Blatter and others slam 2030 World Cup plans</h2>



<p>Sepp Blatter was not alone in his criticism of how FIFA split up the 2030 World Cup. For example, RB Leipzig manager Marco Rose says FIFA is going down the wrong path by separating major tournament hosts.</p>



<p>“It seems that we are not at the end of this spiral yet,” <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/leipzig-boss-slams-fifa-for-stupid-multicontinental-world-cup-20231007-WST-461003.html">Rose said</a>. “I think it’s a shame, maybe even stupid.”</p>



<p>The tournament allows six teams to host games. However, it sets up a situation for fans and players who must travel across the Atlantic Ocean to different climates.</p>



<p><em>PHOTO: IMAGO / Pond5 Images</em></p>


Sepp Blatter calls multi-continental 2030 World Cup absurd

Former FIFA President Sepp Blatter delivered fiery remarks toward the idea to put the 2030 World Cup in six different countries.


<p>Saudi Arabia has reportedly decided not to make an official bid to host the 2030 World Cup. The Middle Eastern nation previously sought to host alongside Egypt and Greece. However, Saudi soccer officials have supposedly backed out of the plan.</p>



<p><em><a href="https://www.marca.com/futbol/2023/06/22/64949a1246163fcb878b45e0.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Marca</a></em> is claiming that Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud contacted similar officials in Egypt and Greece on Thursday. The Saudi executive informed the duo that they will not be a part of the plan to host the competition. The Spanish news outlet reports that Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud did not think that they would prevail in the bid.</p>



<h2>Saudi Arabia was leading force in 2030 World Cup bid</h2>



<p>Saudi Arabia led the group’s effort to host the 2030 World Cup. Egyptian officials previously had doubts about the potential bid as well. In fact, <a href="https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2023/04/354917/egypt-not-planning-to-join-race-for-hosting-2030-world-cup" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reports</a> showed the African nation was considering backing out as well. If successful, it would have been the first time in World Cup history that a tournament happened on separate continents.</p>



<p>A group led by Spain, Portugal and Morocco is among the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/2022/09/05/2030-fifa-world-cup-spain-portugal-bid-may-win-says-uefa/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">frontrunners</a> to host the competition in 2030. Spain and Portugal initially announced a plan to host the tournament back in 2020. Since then, Morocco and Ukraine have also <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/morocco-announces-bid-to-co-host-2030-world-cup-20230315-WST-423401.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">joined forces</a> with the Iberian Peninsula nations.</p>



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<div class="ck-youtube"><iframe loading="lazy" title="Argentina vs. Saudi Arabia Highlights | 2022 FIFA World Cup" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/H6zHbVQjeaw?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>
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<h5>South American group also may host the tournament</h5>



<p>Along with this group, there is also an <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/south-america-submits-joint-bid-for-2030-world-cup-20230208-WST-419024.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">official bid</a> from CONMEBOL countries. Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay have also teamed up to potentially host the competition. Uruguay’s interest to host the 2030 version is particularly interesting. The South Americans hosted the inaugural World Cup in 1930. Uruguay would love to hold the tournament back in Uruguay exactly 100 years after the first World Cup.</p>



<p>Competing nations have a little over a year until the final winner is announced by FIFA. The world’s governing body of the sport is set to unveil the 2030 World Cup host in September 2024.</p>



<p><em>PHOTO: IMAGO &amp; Propaganda Photo</em></p>


Saudi Arabia has reportedly removed themselves for consideration to host the 2030 World Cup, ending its bid with Egypt and Greece.

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Sepp Blatter calls multi-continental 2030 World Cup absurd

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Saudi Arabia pulls out of 2030 World Cup race