FIFA has confirmed the 2034 World Cup will be held in Saudi Arabia, while the 2030 World Cup will be co-hosted by Spain, Portugal and Morocco with the opening three matches in South America.
Both bids were uncontested and were ratified at an online FIFA Congress on Wednesday, with the English, Scottish and Welsh Football Associations supporting the bids.
Saudi Arabia emerged last year as the sole bidder in a controversial process that saw FIFA combine the decisions on the 2030 and 2034 tournaments into a single vote, meaning delegates either supported or opposed both bids with no separate vote available.
FIFA Congress also ratified the centenary 2030 World Cup, which will be held across six countries in three continents with the opening three games taking place in Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay.
But the decision to award Saudi Arabia hosting rights in 2034 is highly controversial, with critics arguing it is an effort to ‘sportswash’ the authoritarian regime’s reputation.
Saudi Arabia has been criticised for its human rights violations, the criminalisation of homosexuality, free-speech restriction and lack of women’s rights.
The country will host football’s most high-profile tournament for the first time and is the latest example of Saudi’s growing influence on global sport.
It hosts Formula 1, boxing, golf and tennis, while the country’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) has set up LIV Golf and purchased Premier League side Newcastle.
Saudi Arabia’s bid was given the highest-ever score by FIFA’s bid evaluation team and deemed only ‘medium risk’ on human rights. Amnesty International described FIFA’s report as “an astonishing whitewash”.
The 2034 World Cup in Saudi Arabia will also be the first time the expanded 48-team tournament is held in just one country, with the 2026 World Cup being held in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Saudi Arabia was effectively handed the finals by an agreement reached at a FIFA Council meeting on October 4 last year.
Source: Sky Sports
