Table of Contents
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.
Vocabulary
- 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
Quiz
Discussion Questions
- In your opinion, what are the pros and cons of having multiple countries host the FIFA World Cup?
- Do you think it is fair that the six host countries will automatically qualify for the 2030 FIFA World Cup?
- Do you think the 2030 FIFA World Cup will really promote peace, tolerance, and inclusion, or is that just marketing language from FIFA?
- 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?
- English teachers looking for teaching ideas, check out my post on using easy news articles for lessons.
- English learners looking for study ideas, check out my post on using news stories for English practice.
Original Story
Fill-in-the-Blank Listening Practice
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.
