FIFA Confirms Saudi Arabia as 2034 World Cup Host

The global football governing body, Fifa, has verified that Saudi Arabia will host the men’s football World Cup in 2034. Concurrently, Spain, Portugal, and Morocco are set to co-host the 2030 tournament. The announcement was celebrated by Asian Football Confederation president Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim al-Khalifa and Saudi Arabia’s minister of sports and youth Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal. Additionally, three matches of the 2030 tournament are scheduled to take place in Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay, commemorating the competition’s centenary. The confirmation of hosts for both World Cups occurred at an Extraordinary Fifa Congress meeting held on Wednesday, subsequent to a voting process. All 211 member nations of Fifa participated in the meeting through a video link. The selection of hosts for both tournaments, along with the venues for the 2030 centenary celebrations, was finalized through two distinct votes. The initial vote designated Uruguay, Paraguay, and Argentina as the centenary hosts. The subsequent vote affirmed the three hosts for 2030 and granted Saudi Arabia the 2034 tournament. Member nations cast their votes by ‘acclamation,’ which involved clapping in front of their cameras during the video conference. For all three decisions, only a single voting option was presented. Before the acclamation, Fifa’s secretary general Mattias Grafstrom stated that “all 211 [member associations] have effectively cast their vote prior to the congress.” The English Football Association expressed its endorsement for the bids, which also garnered support from the Scottish and Welsh FAs, citing assurances received that all supporters would be secure and welcomed at a World Cup hosted by Saudi Arabia. In a statement, England’s FA declared: “After a careful review of both proposals, we supported the two World Cup bids – from Spain/Portugal/Morocco in 2030, and Saudi Arabia in 2034. Both bids are technically strong and meet the Fifa criteria to host the men’s World Cup.” The statement added, “Our focus is on ensuring that all our fans can attend and enjoy tournaments.” Norway chose to abstain from the vote, citing “concerns regarding the current Fifa World Cup bidding process,” rather than specifically due to Saudi Arabia being designated as a host. Switzerland’s football association additionally requested that its observations be documented in the congress minutes. On Tuesday, the Swiss FA had indicated its approval of Saudi Arabia’s bid for the 2034 World Cup, but stipulated that human rights monitoring must be conducted by both Fifa and the international labour organisation. The Danish Football Union (DBU) stated its support for the comprehensive package of the two World Cup bids but desires Fifa to supervise human rights enhancements. DBU chairman Jesper Moller commented: “We would have liked to see more bids for both the 2030 and 2034 World Cups, and we are critical of the overall process.” In recent years, Saudi Arabia has faced accusations of ‘sportswashing,’ a practice involving its substantial investment in sports to enhance the oil-producing kingdom’s image amidst concerns regarding its human rights record and environmental impact. Out of the 15 stadiums designated to host matches for the 2034 World Cup, four have been constructed to date. Amnesty International denounced the choice to award the 2034 World Cup to Saudi Arabia and issued a joint statement representing 21 distinct organizations. Steve Cockburn, Amnesty International’s head of labour rights and sport, stated: “Fifa’s reckless decision to award the 2034 World Cup to Saudi Arabia without ensuring adequate human rights protections are in place will put many lives at risk.” The statement continued: “Based on clear evidence to date, Fifa knows workers will be exploited and even die without fundamental reforms in Saudi Arabia, and yet has chosen to press ahead regardless.” It concluded that “The organisation risks bearing a heavy responsibility for many of the human rights abuses that will follow.” The Football Supporters’ Association indicated that fans harbored “very serious misgivings about how these World Cups were awarded and questions around the supporter experience, particularly in Saudi Arabia.” The association further asserted that human rights criticisms had been “brushed aside and concerns from LGBT+ supporters completely ignored,” and confirmed it had brought these matters to the attention of the FA. Fifa president Gianni Infantino addressed the criticism directed at the organization concerning these decisions. He stated: “We are aware of critics and fears and I fully trust our hosts to address all open points.” Infantino continued: “We have a transparency that will shape real and lasting change. That is what we expect and what we look forward to – social improvements and positive human rights impacts.” He concluded by saying, “That is one of the responsibilities of hosting a World Cup, and the world will of course be watching.”