FIFA names Saudi Arabia as the host for the 2034 World Cup, marking a significant moment in the history of international soccer.
Typically, the announcement of future host nations for the world’s most-watched sporting event would create a wave of excitement, but this revelation felt muted in comparison.
Last year, FIFA detailed its plans for the 2030 World Cup, which coincides with the tournament’s 100th anniversary. The opening match will take place in Montevideo, Uruguay, with subsequent matches hosted in South America before the tournament continues in North America. This will be a historic event for Morocco, Paraguay, and Portugal, as they will host World Cup matches for the first time. Meanwhile, Spain returns to the World Cup stage after last hosting in 1982, and Morocco will become the second African country to host, following South Africa in 2010.
“What better way to celebrate the 100th anniversary in 2030 than to have the World Cup in six countries, on three continents, with 48 teams and 104 epic matches,” remarked FIFA President Gianni Infantino. “The world will stand still and celebrate the 100 years of the World Cup.”
Saudi Arabia’s selection as the 2034 host was almost guaranteed when Australia withdrew its bid. Other nations were unable to participate due to FIFA’s continental rotation policy, which excluded bids from Africa, Europe, and South America, despite the latter hosting only a fraction of the 2030 matches.
This will be Saudi Arabia’s inaugural World Cup, the second in the Middle East, and the third in the Arab world within a decade. Following Qatar’s hosting two years prior, the 2034 tournament is also expected to be held in November and December to avoid the extreme summer heat.
The seven nations selected as hosts will automatically qualify for the tournament, providing a significant advantage.
In recent years, Saudi Arabia has heavily invested in soccer, acquiring Premier League team Newcastle United and attracting high-profile players like Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema to its domestic league.
However, the decision to award the World Cup to Saudi Arabia has sparked criticism due to concerns over the nation’s human rights practices.
“FIFA’s decision to award the 2034 World Cup to Saudi Arabia without ensuring proper human rights protections could jeopardize many lives,” stated Steve Cockburn from Amnesty International.
Infantino suggested that hosting the World Cup could serve as a “catalyst for positive social change” in the country.
“I have full confidence in our hosts to address all concerns and deliver a World Cup that meets global expectations,” Infantino asserted.
