FIFA names Saudi Arabia as World Cup 2034 host; Morocco to co-stage 2030

Saudi Arabia to host FIFA World Cup 2034

FIFA, has officially named Saudi Arabia as the host nation of the FIFA World Cup 2034

The Extraordinary FIFA Congress meeting, held on Wednesday, also confirmed Morocco, Spain and Portugal as co-hosts of the 2030 World Cup.

“We are bringing football to more countries and the number of teams has not diluted the quality. It actually enhanced the opportunity,” Infantino said about the 2030 World Cup.

The combined proposal from Morocco, Spain and Portugal will see the 2030 event take place across three continents and six nations, with Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay hosting celebratory games to mark the tournament’s centenary.

Uruguay held the first World Cup in 1930, while Argentina and Spain have also staged the tournament. Portugal, Paraguay and Morocco will all be first-time hosts.

Asian Football Confederation (AFC) President Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim al-Khalifa (L) and Saudi Arabia's Minister of Sports and Youth Abdulaziz bin Turki al-Faisal al-Saud celebrate after Saudi Arabia was confirmed as host of the 2034 World Cup

Saudi Arabia will become the second Middle Eastern nation to host the tournament after Qatar staged it in 2022.

The 2034 edition will stage the first-ever 48-team tournament in a single host country.

Matches will be held across 15 stadiums in five host cities in Saudi Arabia: Riyadh, Jeddah, Al Khobar, Abha, and Neom.

Riyadh’s King Salman Stadium, with a 92,000-spectator capacity, is expected to be the venue for the opening and final matches once constructed.

Why did Saudi Arabia bid for the World Cup?

Securing the 2034 FIFA World Cup was a central part of the kingdom’s “Vision 2030” economic strategy, spearheaded by the de facto ruler Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Vision 2030 has three primary themes: a vibrant society, a thriving economy and an ambitious nation; the staging of a World Cup inside Saudi Arabia greatly accelerates the realisation of all three.

How many nations will take part and where will the matches be played?

The FIFA World Cup 2034 in Saudi Arabia will see the first-ever 48-team tournament in a single host country.

Matches will be held across 15 stadiums in five host cities: Riyadh, Jeddah, Khobar, Abha, and Neom.

A digital rendering of the proposed 92,000 seat King Salman Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, which is planned to hold the opening and closing matches of the 2034 FIFA World Cup

What is unique about the 2034 tournament?

Saudi Arabia has submitted plans to build a football stadium set 350 metres (1,150 feet) above ground level in a highly ambitious, vast and futuristic construction project called Neom.

When will Saudi Arabia host the World Cup?

FIFA has said the Saudi bid did not nominate specific dates for the World Cup, but they would collaborate with stakeholders to “determine the optimal timing” for the tournament given the country’s hot weather.

Due to Saudi Arabia’s desert climate, the 2034 World Cup is very likely to be pushed to a Northern Hemisphere winter slot – just as FIFA did with the 2022 edition in neighbouring Qatar, which held the event from late-November to mid-December.