LAST UPDATE | 11 Dec 2024
SAUDI ARABIA HAVE been confirmed as hosts of the 2034 men’s World Cup.
The Middle East nation were the sole bidders for the finals in 10 years’ time, with an online Fifa Congress voting by acclamation in favour of their staging despite the huge controversy surrounding the bid.
The hosting rights for the centenary tournament in 2030 were rubberstamped at the same time, with Morocco, Portugal and Spain named as the principal co-hosts.
The opening match of that competition will be played in Uruguay, which hosted the inaugural 1930 finals, with the next two games to be staged in Argentina and Paraguay respectively before the rest of the tournament is played in the three main co-host countries.
The agreement for South America to stage the opening games in 2030 – reached in October last year – paved the way for Saudi Arabia to be sole hosts in 2034.
Saudi Arabia confirmed their interest in hosting on the same day the 2030 agreement was made public, with Fifa limiting further expressions of interest to nations from the Asian and Oceania confederations and setting a deadline of less than a month to declare that interest.
Australia, considered the only realistic challengers to Saudi Arabia, confirmed on 31 October last year that they would not be bidding.
The 42 contacted the FAI ahead of today to ask if they would object or protest to the 2034 World Cup in Saudi Arabia. The Association declined to comment.
The FA explained its support for 2030 and 2034 in a statement shortly after confirmation of the hosting decisions.
“Both bids are technically strong and meet the FIFA criteria to host the men’s World Cup,” it stated.
“Our focus is on ensuring that all our fans can attend and enjoy tournaments.
“The FA board met the Saudi Arabian Football Federation last month to discuss their bid in more detail.
“We asked them to commit to ensuring all fans would be safe and welcome in Saudi Arabia in 2034 – including LGBTQ+ fans. They assured us that they are fully committed to providing a safe and welcome environment for all fans.
“Football is a global game and is for everyone. Our commitment to diversity and inclusion means being respectful of all, including all religions and cultures.
“We also believe that hosting World Cups can be a catalyst for positive change, which is best delivered by working collaboratively in partnership with host nations.
“We will work with FIFA and UEFA to ensure that commitments to respect all human rights are delivered.”
The Norwegian football federation announced on Tuesday it would abstain from any vote by acclamation, and said the process Fifa had followed to determine the 2030 and 2034 hosts was “flawed”.
Human rights campaigners Amnesty International said last week there had been a “deafening silence” from national governing bodies over Saudi’s hosting, compared to how many spoke out regarding Qatar’s staging of the 2022 finals.
Amnesty has warned many migrant workers will die in getting Saudi Arabia ready to host without major reform to labour laws.
Any efforts to stage the 2034 finals in winter – as surely must happen to avoid searing daytime temperatures in the Saudi summer – are set to be opposed by Europe’s domestic leagues, who are already involved in a legal action against Fifa.
The European Leagues umbrella organisation – which includes the Premier League as a member – is holding a board meeting on Friday and, while this topic is not on the agenda, it may well be raised.
A complete disaster but FIFA just want the money.
@colmkearney39@hotmail.com:
Stupid Decision…
Is there any acknowledgment to sustainability… They will build white elephant stadiums with cheap imported exploited labour…
Seriously the World Cup should be in Europe every second time… UK and Ireland could host with not a brick needed to be built… Germany, Italy, France, Spain,
@colmkearney39@hotmail.com: It could be worse. Do you remember the vuvuzelas. Sometimes, I think I can still hear them .
Brilliant news. I’d give my right hand to go!
@Tom O’ Donnell: and they would take it, they are used to dismemberment
@Tom O’ Donnell: would you give your left hand though?
@Fergal Redmond: whoooosh
A lot of people in the comments are outraged by FIFA awarding the 2034 World Cup to Saudi Arabia, calling it a shocking decision. Yet many of those same people are happy to support football teams funded by Saudi investment or cheer on leagues that include Saudi-backed clubs without batting an eye. They’ll also buy fast fashion or the latest tech, often sourced or manufactured under questionable ethical conditions. If we’re going to criticise decisions like this, let’s start by scrutinising our own choices first. Hypocrisy won’t fix anything.
@john O’Brien: 100% and they’ll all still watch it and enjoy it !
The beautiful game rears its ugly interior above the parapet once again…
@Ultán Corcoran: It has nothing to do with the game itself Ultán. It has all to do with the senior administrators in world football being utterly devoid of moral compass. This is a shameful decision led by Infantino.
@Richard Ford: And I completely agree with you, I wasn’t suggesting otherwise. The interior of the game are these senior administratiors like you mentioned, who see fit to use it as means to make profit. No matter the cost of human life. I was just ironically playing with the moniker given to football. Which is entirely true aside from its ugly, immoral financial side at the top.
@Ultán Corcoran: . Very well said Ultán.
@Richard Ford: Follow the money, wonder why the Aussies withdrew
Sure, we’re only going out there so we can highlight the issues with the Saudis and make a few quid at the same time . I hope the Rep of Ireland take the same stance as they did with Qatar and refuse to go. The fact that they didn’t qualify for that tournament is irrelevant. We have the moral high ground on this.
Why is it that it’s only after they have vacated their roles do FIFA presidents get investigated? It’s turning as corrupt as boxing.b
@ecrowley ecrowley: . Boxing isn’t in the same league as FIFA and UEFA when it comes to corruption.
@Richard Ford: I dunno, disputed winners of contests? Boxing is well ahead in those stakes.
Fifa have been bought by the fossil fuel industry just like the UN COP Confences, the mainstream political parties and the media. Humans are hopeless at dealing with the climate emergency.
Rumour has it the Irish team are going to throw their qualifying games so they don’t qualify for it
Money wins again.
Correct choice. They will put on the best show as they have way way way more money than anyone else to spend on a tournament like this.
@Caolan Z: ever experienced the mid afternoon heat in Saudi? Yeah, fantastic choice!
Disgraceful decision
Bring back batter!
Oh look…..my laundrys done…..
It’s called the world cup absolutely should be held in new places.
@paulie: Couldn’t agree more. Places with a long football tradition where it’s never been held . Not relatively new countries who’ve bought a furcoatnoknickers league and have now bought the world cup too. Disgusting all round