The 2034 men’s football World Cup will be held in Saudi Arabia, while Spain, Portugal and Morocco will be joint hosts for the 2030 tournament, world governing body Fifa has confirmed. Three matches in the 2030 tournament will also be held in Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay to mark 100 years of the competition. The hosts for both World Cups were confirmed at Wednesday’s Extraordinary Fifa Congress meeting following a vote.
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Spain World Cup winner and FC Barcelona legend Andres Iniesta has announced his retirement from football at the age of 40. Iniesta is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in history, thanks in part to the midfield partnerships he formed with Xavi Hernandez and Sergio Busquets for Spain and Barcelona. He earned 131 caps for his country, scoring the winning goal in the 2010 Fifa World Cup final and winning the European Championship in 2008 and 2012.
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German legend Franz Beckenbauer, widely regarded as one of football’s greatest players, has died aged 78. He won the World Cup as captain of West Germany in 1974 and lifted the trophy again as manager in 1990. Beckenbauer, who was primarily a defender, played 582 times for Bayern Munich and won the German top flight as both a player and a manager.
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Lionel Messi has confirmed that he will not play at the next World Cup – set to be held in the US, Canada and Mexico in 2026 – to Chinese media outlet Titan Sports. Messi finally got his hands on the only major piece of silverware that had alluded him in his illustrious career when leading his country all the way at Qatar 2022.
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Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni has extended his contract until 2026. Scaloni, 44, led his country to victory at the 2022 World Cup when they beat France on penalties in a dramatic final. He was appointed into his role by the Argentina Football Association (AFA) in 2018 and has also won the 2021 Copa America during his time in charge.
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