2034 World Cup: Saudi Arabia wins right to host men's tournament with 2030 World Cup to be held in three continents

FIFA has officially announced that Saudi Arabia will host the World Cup in 2034. Meanwhile, the 2030 World Cup will be jointly organized by Spain, Portugal, and Morocco, with the first three games taking place in South America.

Both proposals faced no competition and were approved during an online FIFA Congress on Wednesday, with backing from the football associations of England, Scotland, and Wales.

Last year, Saudi Arabia stood out as the only contender in a contentious situation where FIFA merged the voting for the 2030 and 2034 World Cups into one decision. This meant that delegates had to either back or reject both bids simultaneously, with no option to vote on them separately.

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The FIFA Congress approved the centennial World Cup for 2030, which will be hosted by six nations across three continents. The first three matches are set to happen in Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay.

The choice to grant Saudi Arabia the opportunity to host events in 2034 has stirred considerable debate. Detractors claim that this move is a tactic to improve the image of the country's authoritarian government through sports.

Reactions to Saudi Arabia's decision to host the 2034 World Cup.

Saudi Arabia has faced criticism for its violations of human rights, including the criminalization of homosexuality, limitations on free speech, and insufficient protections for women’s rights.

The nation will be hosting football's most prestigious tournament for the first time, highlighting Saudi Arabia's increasing impact on the world of sports.

It features events like Formula 1 racing, boxing, golf, and tennis. Additionally, the nation's Public Investment Fund (PIF) has established LIV Golf and acquired the Premier League team Newcastle.

FAW backs Saudi Arabia's proposal.

The Football Association of Wales issued a statement saying, "In light of the results from the special FIFA Congress, the FAW will collaborate with other national football organizations to keep a close watch on the steps that will be taken to tackle issues as we prepare for the tournament in Saudi Arabia."

Saudi Arabia's proposal received the highest rating ever from FIFA's bidding evaluation team and was classified as having only a 'moderate risk' concerning human rights issues. Amnesty International criticized FIFA's findings, calling them "an incredible cover-up."

The 2034 World Cup in Saudi Arabia will mark the inaugural occasion for the expanded 48-team tournament to take place in a single nation, unlike the 2026 World Cup, which will occur across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Saudi Arabia was essentially awarded the finals following an agreement made during a FIFA Council meeting on October 4 of the previous year.

Spain, Portugal, and Morocco initially faced competition from a South American bid for the 2030 World Cup. However, an agreement was reached allowing South America to host the first three matches of the centenary tournament, while Spain, Portugal, and Morocco will take care of the remaining games.

This indicated that only nations from Asia or Oceania could be considered to host the 2034 event, according to FIFA's rotation policy. FIFA also announced that countries from these regions interested in hosting had less than a month to submit their bids.

Saudi Arabia took action right away, as they announced their new agreement on the same day. Australia then declared on October 31 that it would not compete for the position.

FA Meets Saudi To Prioritize Fan Safety

Official announcement from the FA:

After thoroughly evaluating both proposals, we decided to endorse the World Cup bids from Spain/Portugal/Morocco for 2030 and Saudi Arabia for 2034. Each bid is well-prepared and fulfills FIFA’s requirements for hosting the Men's World Cup.

We are dedicated to making sure that every one of our fans has the opportunity to participate in and have a great time at the tournaments.

Last month, the FA Board had a meeting with the Saudi Arabian Football Federation to go over their proposal more thoroughly. We emphasized the importance of ensuring that all fans, including those from the LGBTQ+ community, would feel safe and welcomed in Saudi Arabia in 2034. They responded by affirming their dedication to creating an inclusive and secure atmosphere for all attendees.

Football is a worldwide sport that welcomes everyone. We are dedicated to promoting diversity and inclusion by respecting individuals of all backgrounds, religions, and cultures. Additionally, we see the potential of hosting World Cups as a way to inspire positive transformation, and we believe this is best achieved through cooperative efforts with the countries that host the events.

"We will collaborate with FIFA and UEFA to make sure that promises to uphold all human rights are fulfilled."

Could The Saudi World Cup Take Place In Winter?

It's highly probable that the Premier League and other leading European leagues will resist any efforts to hold the Saudi World Cup during the winter months.

According to FIFA's evaluation report, Saudi Arabia experiences its most moderate temperatures from October to April. However, in June and July, when the World Cup usually takes place, daytime temperatures can soar above 40 degrees Celsius.

The European Leagues, which encompasses the Premier League, is currently engaged in a legal dispute with FIFA due to what they perceive as insufficient consultation regarding the international schedule. According to the PA news agency, there are significant worries among the leagues about the disruption that a winter World Cup in 2034 might create in the match schedules.

Placing the World Cup in the middle of the season could also create ripple effects for the seasons before and after the tournament that is disrupted by the finals.

Domestic leagues took a break for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, but taking another pause would be significantly tougher now. This is mainly due to the increased number of European club competitions that have developed since then and the World Cup's expansion to include 48 teams.

For the 2026 finals, athletes will be with their national teams for as long as eight weeks, starting from the required release date on May 25 until the championship match on July 19.

'FIFA's Risky Decision Sparks Concerns'

Steve Cockburn, the director of Amnesty International, made remarks during an interview on Sky Sports News.

FIFA has established human rights criteria as part of its bidding process. This means that any country wishing to host the World Cup must adhere to basic labor standards, uphold freedom of expression, and ensure the safety and protection of individuals during the tournament.

We've invested considerable effort into understanding Saudi Arabia over the years, and it's evident that this choice poses significant risks for FIFA.

Migrant workers face significant dangers, as many of them will participate in the tournament. They are vulnerable to exploitation and even life-threatening situations due to the intense heat. Additionally, local residents may be at risk of being forcibly removed from their homes for large-scale developments, and fans might experience discrimination.

"In Saudi Arabia, it's clear that anyone who attempts to express their opinions, even in a non-violent manner, risks ending up in jail."

This choice is incredibly risky. FIFA failed to secure any human rights safeguards with Saudi Arabia prior to granting them the event, and it's uncertain whether they made a genuine effort to do so.