FIFA announces Saudi Arabia as the host of the 2034 FIFA World Cup.
The decision was announced by FIFA President Gianni Infantino at the FIFA Congress meeting, held on Wednesday. Infantino stated, “We are bringing football to more countries, and the number of teams has not diluted the quality. It actually enhanced the opportunity.”
Saudi Arabia was the only bidder for the 2034 edition.
The president of the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee, Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki bin Faisal Al Saud, expressed his delight, calling it a dream come true, “This is a historic moment for Saudi Arabia and a dream come true for all our 32 million people who simply love the game.” He also spoke about the country’s Vision 2030 goal: “The Kingdom is on a remarkable journey of transformation under Vision 2030, and today is another huge step forward that reflects and celebrates our progress while looking ahead to an even brighter future.” Quote via ESPN.
This marks the second time the World Cup will be held in the Middle East, following Qatar’s hosting in 2022.
The Saudis are accustomed to hosting big tournaments including the 1984 Asian Cup, 2014 Gulf Cup of Nations, 2023 FIFA Club World Cup, the 2018, 2019, 2022, and 2023 Supercoppa Italiana, the Spanish Supercopa since 2020, and the Arab Club Champions Cup. They are also scheduled to host the 2025 FIFA U20 World Cup and the 2029 Asian Winter Games.
As football’s biggest tournament, the World Cup presents an opportunity for Saudi Arabia to showcase its advancements in technology and infrastructure, sealing its status as a country for hosting global tournaments.
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