Fifa confirm Saudi Arabia as 2034 World Cup host, 2030 edition to be held in 6 countries
Decision underlines the Gulf kingdom’s growing influence in world sport, despite concerns over its human rights record
Fifa confirmed on Wednesday that Saudi Arabia would host the 2034 World Cup, underlining the Gulf kingdom’s growing influence in world sport despite criticism of the country’s human rights record.
At the same time, a virtual congress of world football’s governing body confirmed that Morocco, Spain and Portugal would be joint hosts of the 2030 World Cup, in which three games would also be played in South America.
The Saudi bid was waved through by acclamation during the meeting of Fifa’s 211 national member associations, with no rivals standing in its way.
“It is a proud day, a day of celebration, a day that we invite the entire world to Saudi Arabia,” said Abdulaziz bin Turki bin Faisal al Saud, the Saudi Minister of Sports. “We intend to have an extraordinary version of the World Cup in our kingdom.”
However, there was immediate condemnation from rights groups who said handing the organisation of the tournament to the country puts the lives of construction workers at risk and “marks a moment of great danger”.
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Football’s governing body had invoked its principle of rotating the World Cup between continents, which meant only bids from Asia or Oceania were welcome for 2034.
