FIFA has announced Saudi Arabia as the host of the 2034 FIFA World Cup, marking the second time the tournament will be held in the Middle East after Qatar’s 2022 edition.
At an Extraordinary FIFA Congress in Riyadh, FIFA President Gianni Infantino also confirmed Morocco, Spain, and Portugal as co-hosts of the 2030 World Cup. Both decisions, made during Wednesday's meeting, faced no opposition as each event had only one bid.
2030 World Cup to Span Three Continents
The 2030 World Cup will be unique, with matches played across three continents and six countries. Morocco, Spain, and Portugal will host most of the games, while Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay will hold celebratory matches to honor the tournament’s 100th anniversary.
Uruguay hosted the first-ever World Cup in 1930, while Argentina and Spain have previously hosted the event. For Morocco, Portugal, and Paraguay, this will be their first time as hosts.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino praised the move, saying, “We are bringing football to more countries and the number of teams has not diluted the quality. It actually enhanced the opportunity.”
Saudi Arabia Prepares for 2034
Saudi Arabia’s hosting of the 2034 World Cup will see the tournament expand to a 48-team format held entirely in a single country for the first time. Matches will be played in 15 stadiums across five cities: Riyadh, Jeddah, Al Khobar, Abha, and Neom.
The centerpiece of the tournament is the proposed King Salman Stadium in Riyadh, which will have a capacity of 92,000 and is expected to host the opening and final matches.
Saudi Sports Minister Abdulaziz bin Turki bin Faisal al Saud expressed pride in the decision, stating, “It is a proud day, a day of celebration, a day that we invite the entire world to Saudi Arabia. We intend to have an extraordinary version of the World Cup in our kingdom.”
The decision to award Saudi Arabia the hosting rights was unanimously approved by FIFA’s 211 national member associations.
This milestone cements Saudi Arabia’s growing influence in global football, building on its efforts to host major international events and invest heavily in the sport.
