Cristiano Ronaldo reacts as Portugal confirmed joint hosts of 2030 FIFA World Cup

Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo expressed his pride as his country were announced the joint hosts of the 2030 FIFA World Cup along with Spain and Morocco. The decision was made by FIFA on Wednesday (December 11).

Argentina, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay were the other joint bidders, but in October last year, Spain, Portugal and Morocco were announced by FIFA as the only bidders.

However, on the occasion of 100 years of the first World Cup held in Uruguay, the opening three matches of the 2030 edition will be held in Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay before the bandwagon moves to Europe and Africa. It's set to be a 48-team event, following the upcoming 2026 edition.

Ronaldo tweeted following Portugal's confirmation as the 2030 World Cup co-hosts (as translated from Portuguese):

"A dream come true. Portugal will host the 2030 World Cup and fill us with pride. Together!"

Like in the 2026 edition, the 2030 event will also have 12 groups of four teams each, with the top two and eight best third-placed teams progressing to the Round of 32.

Twenty stadiums are set to be used for the 2030 edition, with Spain to use 11, Morocco six and Portugal five. While Ronaldo is expected to play the 2026 World Cup - if Portugal qualify - he's unlikely to be active when the next edition comes around in four years' time.

---

How has Cristiano Ronaldo fared for Portugal at the FIFA World Cup?

Al-Nassr striker Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo is widely regarded as one of the game's best ever players and most prolific goalscorers, with a record 916 strikes for club and country during his illustrious career.

That includes 135 goals for Portugal - a record tally in men's international football. However, he has scored just eight times in 22 games across five different editions of the FIFA World Cup for A Selecao, a rather modest tally for a prolific scorer.

In his debut World Cup campaign in Germany in 2006, Ronaldo struck once in six games as Portugal finished fourth. Four years later, in South Africa, the five-time Ballon d'Or winner scored once in four games as A Selecao were eliminated in the Round of 16.

In the 2014 edition in Brazil, Ronaldo once again scored just once - this time in three games - as Portugal crashed out in the group stage. Four years later, in Russia, Ronaldo enjoyed his most prolific World Cup campaign, scoring four times - including a hat-trick - even as A Selecao lost in the Round of 16.

In his latest appearance two years ago in Qatar, Portugal were upset by Morocco in the quarter-final, with Cristiano Ronaldo scoring once in five games.