FIFA has officially announced Saudi Arabia as the host nation for the 2034 FIFA World Cup.
The confirmation came during an online FIFA Congress held on Wednesday, where key decisions regarding future tournaments were finalized.
In the same session, FIFA reaffirmed that the 2030 World Cup will be jointly hosted by Morocco, Spain, and Portugal, with three additional matches to be played in South America to commemorate the tournament’s centenary.
Saudi Arabia emerged as the sole bidder for the 2034 World Cup after FIFA merged the bidding processes for the 2030 and 2034 tournaments, allowing delegates to cast a single vote supporting or opposing both proposals. This decision sparked controversy, as it left no room for separate evaluations of each bid.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabia’s de facto leader, has been leveraging sports to enhance the kingdom’s global influence and reputation. The country already hosts several high-profile international events, including a Formula One Grand Prix, major boxing matches, the LIV Golf circuit, and the WTA Finals.
With this development, Saudi Arabia solidifies its growing prominence on the global sports stage, reinforcing its strategy of using international events to reshape its image and expand its influence.
