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The 2030 FIFA World Cup will be held in six countries

The 2030 FIFA World Cup will be held in six countries
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Listen to the story (Australian Accent)

FIFA will celebrate the men’s World Cup 100-year anniversary in 2030. 

For the special occasion, six countries will host the tournament, FIFA announced

This celebration marks 100 years since the inaugural World Cup. The first tournament was held in Uruguay in 1930 and was won by the host country.

Spain, Portugal, and Morocco will work together as co-hosts for the tournament. Additionally, Uruguay, Paraguay, and Argentina will each hold an opening match.

All six host countries will automatically qualify for the tournament which will have 48 teams. 

The tournament's first game will be held at the Estádio Centenário in Montevideo, Uruguay, where the first World Cup final took place.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino says that multiple countries hosting the World Cup symbolizes unity in a divided world.

FIFA says that hosting the 2030 World Cup in three continents – Africa, Europe and South America – promotes peace, tolerance, and inclusion through the love of the sport.

Morocco and Portugal will host the tournament for the first time. Spain previously hosted the World Cup in 1982.

The 2030 World Cup will be the first to have six host countries in three different continents. The next World Cup in 2026 will be the first tournament hosted by more than two countries, with Canada, the US, and Mexico as co-hosts.

Argentina won the previous men's World Cup in 2022, defeating France in the final.

Vocabulary26 words

Celebrate
to mark or remember an important event, especially with enjoyable activities
Anniversary
a special date or day that marks a particular event or occasion, like a wedding or the founding of a company
Occasion
a special time, event or opportunity;
Host
to organize or hold an event; provide space for an event
Tournament
a contest or competition with only one winner after many games/rounds
Announce
share information openly; to tell the public; to make a statement; to report
Celebration
A big happy party or event
Mark
to show or indicate that something important has happened
Inaugural
The first time something happens or starts
Hold
to organize; to arrange; to have an event; host
Host
A person or places that organizes and holds an event for other people
Opening match
The first match/game in a tournament
Qualify
Meeting the requirements or standards to be eligible or allowed to participate in something; in sports, to win enough points to go to the next round of a tournament
Final
The last round/game of a competition
Take place
happen; occur;
President
leader; the top person in a large company, organization, or country; boss
Multiple
more than one; several; numerous; many; some
Symbolize
To stand for or represent something; to show a different meaning
Unity
When people or things come together and work as one
Divide
To separate or make into parts
Continent
A really big piece of land, like Africa or Asia
Promote
to advertise; to market; to push; to make people aware; to make popular -
Tolerance
the ability to understand and accept people who are different from you
Inclusion
the act of making sure that everyone is involved and feels welcome
Previously
before; earlier; at an earlier time
Defeat
To win against someone or something in a game or competition

Fill-in-the-blank listening

Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.

FIFA will _____ the men’s World Cup 100-year anniversary in _____. 

For the special occasion, _____ countries will host the tournament, FIFA announced. 

_____ celebration marks 100 years since the inaugural World Cup. The _____ tournament was held in Uruguay in 1930 and was won by the _____ country.

Spain, Portugal, and _____ will work together as co-hosts for the tournament. _____, Uruguay, Paraguay, and Argentina will each hold an _____ match.

All six host countries will _____ qualify for the tournament which will have 48 _____. 

The tournament's first game _____ be held at the Estádio Centenário in Montevideo, Uruguay, _____ the first World Cup final took place.

FIFA _____ Gianni Infantino says that multiple countries hosting the World Cup symbolizes _____ in a divided world.

FIFA _____ that hosting the 2030 World Cup in three _____ – Africa, Europe and South America – promotes peace, tolerance, and inclusion through the _____ of the sport.

Morocco and Portugal will _____ the tournament for the first time. Spain previously hosted _____ World Cup in 1982.

The _____ World Cup will be the first to have six host countries in three different continents. The next World Cup in _____ will be the first tournament hosted by more than two countries, with _____, the US, and Mexico as co-hosts.

Argentina won the _____ men's World Cup in 2022, defeating France in the final.

Discussion questions

  1. In your opinion, what are the pros and cons of having multiple countries host the FIFA World Cup?
  2. Do you think it is fair that the six host countries will automatically qualify for the 2030 FIFA World Cup?
  3. Do you think the 2030 FIFA World Cup will really promote peace, tolerance, and inclusion, or is that just marketing language from FIFA?
  4. Do you think it's important for a country to have the opportunity to host a major international tournament like the World Cup? Why or why not?

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