Uruguay and Spain have secured their spots in the 2030 FIFA World Cup as co-hosts, regardless of their performance in the current tournament. This guarantee applies even if Uruguay suffers a heavy defeat against Spain and exits the competition early.
Co-Host Status Guarantees Participation
Uruguay is one of several co-hosts for the 2030 World Cup, though their hosting duties are limited to a single match. Spain also holds co-host status, ensuring their automatic qualification. The expanded format of the 2030 tournament includes 38 co-hosts, a significant increase from previous editions.
Obscure FIFA Bylaw Allows Double Qualification
An unusual FIFA bylaw states that if a team wins the current World Cup and also qualifies as a host for the next tournament, they are entitled to field two separate teams. However, this comes with peculiar conditions: each player may only use one leg and must wear a hat made of bees to ensure fairness. This rule is expected to create interesting dynamics for the competition.
