Gurpreet prepares for the Panama challenge.
| Photo Credit: K. Murali Kumar

Valverde is among the big names included in the initial list.
| Photo Credit: Getty Images

Stellar show: Cape Verde enters the knockouts unbeaten.
| Photo Credit: REUTERS

Senators vote in favour of a bill to legalize euthanasia, in Montevideo, Uruguay, Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025.
| Photo Credit: AP

FIFA will confirm the hosts of the 2030 and 2034 World Cups on Wednesday, with a joint bid led by Morocco, Spain and Portugal set to be awarded the former, and the latter being handed to Saudi Arabia. The awarding of hosting rights for both tournaments will go to a vote during a FIFA Congress to be held virtually, but there is no doubt about the outcomes with neither bid having a rival. The 2030 tournament will mark a century since the first World Cup was held in Uruguay, and as a result the bid will also see the South American nation handed a game along with Argentina and Paraguay.

That makes it a remarkable and completely unprecedented bid, involving three different continental confederations.

FIFA already confirmed over a year ago that the joint proposal led by Morocco, Spain and Portugal was the sole contender for 2030, with all other potential candidacies having fallen by the wayside.

A joint British and Irish bid was abandoned when they decided to focus on hosting Euro 2028, while there were suggestions of a bid from South Korea, China, Japan and North Korea.

Four South American countries launched a joint bid in 2019, convinced that the centenary World Cup should entirely take place on the same continent where it all began.

In late 2022, UEFA promoted a bid uniting Spain and Portugal with war-torn Ukraine in a show of “solidarity” following the Russian invasion.

However, Ukraine was quietly dropped from that candidacy last year as Morocco joined forces with the Iberian neighbours, while South America agreed to step aside in exchange for being awarded the hosting of three games, one each for Uruguay, Paraguay and Argentina.

Morocco plans mega stadium

Following these “centenary celebrations” in the comparative chill of the southern hemisphere winter, the six teams involved — along with their fans — will have to cross the Atlantic Ocean to play a part in the remaining 101 matches.

This tentacular tournament will conclude with the final on July 21, and it is yet to be seen where that game will be staged.

Spain, which hosted the 1982 World Cup, is set to be the centrepiece as it boasts 11 of the 20 proposed stadiums.

Morocco — which has tried and failed on five previous occasions to be awarded the staging of the tournament — will become the second African nation to host the competition after South Africa in 2010.

Potential venues for the final include the Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid and Barcelona’s renovated Camp Nou, as well as the planned Hassan II stadium between Casablanca and Rabat, which is set to become “the biggest stadium in the world” with a capacity of 115,000.

Portugal, which hosted Euro 2004, will offer two stadiums in Lisbon and one in Porto, and hopes to stage a semi-final.

Human rights concerns

As for 2034, FIFA invoked its principle of continental rotation, therefore only welcoming bids from Asia or Oceania — the 2026 World Cup, the first involving 48 teams, will take place across North America.

Controversially, the body gave potential bidders barely a month late last year to submit candidacies, and Australia and Indonesia quickly abandoned their interest.

That left Saudi Arabia as the sole candidate, clearing the way for the World Cup to return to the Gulf region following Qatar’s hosting in 2022.

The kingdom’s de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, has been using sport for some time now to amass influence and improve its global image.

Being handed the 2034 World Cup will be a crowning moment, and Saudi will win despite currently only boasting two stadiums with a capacity of 40,000, when 14 are required.

Beyond that logistical challenge, the baking temperatures in the northern hemisphere summer could mean pushing the tournament back to later in the year, as happened in 2022.

However, the fact that Ramadan will take place in December that year is an added complication.

Moreover, the awarding of the World Cup to Saudi will make the issue of human rights a major talking point again, just as in 2022.

Rights groups highlight mass executions in Saudi Arabia and allegations of torture, as well as restrictions on women under the conservative country’s male guardianship system. Free expression is severely restricted too.

Saudi Arabia, which is hosting several high-profile events including Formula One and the WTA Finals tennis, is often accused of “sportswashing” — using sport to divert attention from its rights record.

Montevideo:

Uruguay’s new president-elect Yamandu Orsi, whose political ambitions were galvanized by his experience growing up in a dictatorship, was the pollsters’ narrow favorite to win the second round of the South American nation’s presidential election on Sunday for the center-left. 

The 57-year-old former history teacher and local mayor managed to unseat the ruling conservative bloc. He placed first with 49.8% of votes for the left-leaning Broad Front coalition in November’s second round, against Alvaro Delgado of the governing center-right National Party with 45.9%. 

During the campaign, Orsi had sought to reassure Uruguayans that he did not plan a sharp political shift in the traditionally moderate and relatively wealthy nation of 3.4 million people that is known for its beaches, legal cannabis and stable economy.

The election concluded in a cordial atmosphere, with both sides vowing to work together to advance the nation. Delgado had said before the results he would invite Orsi over for traditional mate tea should he secure a victory.

Orsi has said he wants to usher in “a modern left”, to tackle homelessness, poverty and crime – a key voter concern.

Homicide rates in Uruguay have risen sharply in recent years, fueled by changing cocaine smuggling routes. The poverty rate is one of the lowest in the region and has dropped back down to pre-COVID levels this year, but charities say it continues to affect children disproportionately.

“The destiny and future of this country has to change,” Orsi told Reuters in an interview in capital Montevideo in October, saying his Broad Front coalition was the force to push that change by striking a different balance between social welfare and economic growth.

He has backing from leftist icon Jose “Pepe” Mujica, a former rebel-turned-president, but also moderate groups who like his business-friendly tone. Unlike many other countries in the region, Uruguay has rarely had divisive politics.

“I am going to be the president who calls for national dialogue again and again,” Orsi said during his Nov. 24 victory speech.

As mayor of Canelones, the country’s second largest region, he was credited with helping to lure prospective investors and easing local bureaucracy to attract international firms like Google, with some level of success. He has said he plans to avoid tax hikes despite a growing deficit, and instead focus on spurring faster growth.

Neither coalition in Uruguay has an absolute majority in the lower house following October’s elections, but the Broad Front won 16 of 30 Senate seats. Orsi argues that places him in a better position to lead the government.

Folksy Style

Some voters Reuters spoke to said they worried Orsi was indecisive and “short on ideas.” 

Other voters, however, liked that he was moderate and “open to dialogue,” while supportive political colleagues said he represented a “generational shift” among Latin America’s political left, balancing business needs and social welfare.

“He has practical experience,” said Mujica, now 89, in an interview with Reuters earlier this year, championing Orsi as a political bridge-builder.

“He has a willingness to endure differences and is going to build a team. That’s why we support him.”

Orsi employs a casual, folksy style that in part mirrors Mujica – well known for his humble lifestyle that famously included driving an old VW Beetle to work during his 2010-2015 presidency.

Orsi is often photographed carrying traditional mate tea, walking his dog, Ramon, and dressing casually. He has said that, like Mujica, he would not live in the presidential residence if elected.

While he has been guarded on concrete policies – giving little away in discussion with Reuters – he has said he plans to boost funding to the prison system and strengthen cooperation with Europe on tackling drug crime.

Orsi says that politics was never part of his family life, growing up in a rural area of Canelones where his parents ran a small convenience store. But after elections in 1984 that led to the restoration of democracy, he got sucked into that world.

“Politics was a dirty word … because we were living in a dictatorship,” he said, referring to Uruguay’s 1973-1985 period of civic-military rule, one of several dictatorships during that time in South America. Orsi was 17 when elections returned.

“That breath of fresh air back then flooded through me, and there it has remained,” he said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Uruguay’s presidential candidate for the Frente Amplio party, Yamandú Orsi, greets supporters after casting his vote during the presidential runoff on November 24, 2024 in Canelones, Uruguay. Yamandú Orsi candidate for the Frente Amplio and Alvaro Delgado candidate for the Partido Nacional run for the presidency in a tight runoff. The winner will run the country for the 2025-2030 period.
| Photo Credit: Getty Images

Voters in South America’s laid-back Uruguay, known for its beaches, legalized marijuana and stability, headed to the polls on Sunday for a second-round presidential race between moderates that closes out a bumper year for global elections.

The vote in the small nation of 3.4 million people sees opposition center-left candidate Yamandu Orsi take on continuity conservative runner, Alvaro Delgado, who has the backing of a third-placed ally.

Ahead of Sunday’s election, opinion polls suggested the Nov. 24 runoff promised to be razor tight, with fewer than 25,000 votes potentially separating the two contenders.

Unlike sharp right-left divides in recent elections in Argentina, Brazil or Mexico, Uruguay’s political arena is relatively tension-free, with significant overlap between the conservative and liberal coalitions vying for office.

Polling stations opened at 8 a.m. (1100 GMT) and close at 7:30 p.m. local time, with the first results expected two hours later.

High living costs, inequality and violent crime are among Uruguyans’ biggest worries, but inflation has been easing in the run-up to the election, and both employment and real salaries are on the rise.

President Luis Lacalle Pou, who belongs to Delgado’s National Party, is popular but he cannot run for immediate re-election due to constitutional rules.

Orsi, who has pledged a “modern left” policy approach, won 43.9% of the first-round October vote for the Broad Front and will face Delgado, who secured 26.8% but also has the backing of the conservative Colorado Party that together with his National Party made up almost 42% of votes. The two parties did the same in 2019, winning the election.

Orsi has sought to reassure Uruguayans that he does not plan a sharp policy shift in the traditionally moderate and relatively wealthy nation.

Construction worker, Ruben Parada, 44, a resident of the capital, Montevideo, said he was voting for Orsi because his Broad Front “thought less about the rich” and would do more to help working people.

Conservative Delgado, meanwhile, has asked voters to “re-elect a good government,” seeking to capitalize on the popularity of Pou.

Economic successes

While the ruling coalition is struggling to defend its record on fighting crime and over several corruption scandals, it hopes economic successes may be enough to convince voters to choose continuity over change.

“They did more in five years than the Broad Front did in 15 years,” said 38-year-old Jaqueline Fleitas, who cast her second-round ballot for Delgado, mentioning the construction of a hospital near her home in Montevideo.

“There’s still work to do, so we need five more years of this government,” she added.

Neither coalition has an absolute majority in the lower house following October’s elections. But Orsi’s Broad Front won 16 of 30 Senate seats. He says his Senate majority puts him in a better position to lead the next government.

Both contenders on Sunday are hoping to attract the roughly 8% of first-round voters who went for smaller, unaligned parties, as well as those who failed to turn out in October.

But neither made new pledges in the final weeks of campaigning, and pollsters say a televised debate on Nov. 17 appears to have had little effect.

One question as the biggest year for elections in history comes to an end is whether Uruguay will buck a global trend of incumbent parties losing vote share compared with the previous election. Voters hurt by inflation have punished parties in power, including in Britain, Japan and the United States.

A robust Uruguayan economy though could help Delgado on Sunday: “There are few indications that voters are clamoring for significant political change,” said Uruguayan analyst Nicolas Saldias of the Economist Intelligence Unit.

Montevideo:

Voters in South America’s laid-back Uruguay, known for its beaches, legalized marijuana and stability, will head to the polls on Sunday in a second-round presidential race between moderates that closes out a bumper year of elections.

The vote in the small nation of 3.4 million people sees opposition center-left candidate Yamandu Orsi take on continuity conservative runner, Alvaro Delgado, who has the backing of a third-placed ally.

Final opinion polls suggest the Nov. 24 runoff promises to be razor tight, with fewer than 25,000 votes potentially separating the frontrunners.

Unlike sharp right-left divides in recent elections in Argentina, Brazil or Mexico, Uruguay’s political arena is relatively tension-free, with significant overlap between the conservative and liberal coalitions vying for office, taking some of the sting out of Sunday’s final result.

Ballot stations open at 8 a.m. (1100 GMT) and close at 7:30 p.m. local time, with first results expected two hours later.

Mr Orsi, who has pledged a “modern left” policy approach, won 43.9% of the October vote for the Broad Front and will face Delgado, who secured 26.8% but also has the backing of the conservative Colorado Party that together with his National Party made up almost 42% of votes. The two parties did the same in 2019, winning the election.

Mr Orsi has sought to reassure Uruguayans that he does not plan a sharp policy shift in the traditionally moderate and relatively wealthy nation.

Mr Delgado meanwhile has asked voters to “re-elect a good government,” seeking to capitalize on the popularity of President Lacalle Pou, who constitutionally cannot run for immediate re-election.

Neither coalition has an absolute majority in the lower house following October’s elections. But Mr Orsi’s Broad Front won 16 of 30 Senate seats. He argues his senate majority places him in a better position to lead the next government.

Both contenders on Sunday are hoping to attract the roughly 8% of first-round voters who went for smaller, unaligned parties, as well as those who failed to turn out in October.

But neither has made new pledges in the final weeks to appeal to them, and pollsters say a televised debate on Nov. 17 appears to have had little effect.

“I don’t know who I’m voting for,” said Rosario Gusque, 42, from the region of Canelones where Orsi was previously mayor. “Even less so after seeing the debate.”

One question as the biggest year for elections in history comes to an end is whether Uruguay will buck a global trend of incumbent parties losing vote share compared with the previous election. Voters hurt by inflation and high living costs have punished parties in power, including in Britain, Japan and the United States.

A robust Uruguayan economy though could help Delgado on Sunday: “There are few indications that voters are clamoring for significant political change,” said Uruguayan analyst Nicolas Saldias of the Economist Intelligence Unit.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

File image of Luis Suarez.© AFP

Darwin Nunez exchanged punches with fighting fans during a chaotic end to the game.© AFP