FIFA has officially announced Saudi Arabia as the host of the 2034 FIFA World Cup, following a virtual FIFA Congress on Wednesday.
The Middle Eastern nation submitted the sole bid for the competition, garnering overwhelming support from 200 FIFA member federations.
“The vote of the congress is loud and clear,” said Gianni Infantino, FIFA president, during the announcement.
Saudi Arabia’s bid, submitted in 2023, has faced significant criticism, with concerns raised over the country’s human rights record, particularly regarding women’s rights and freedom of expression.
However, FIFA’s bid evaluation team assessed these concerns as only “medium risk,” allowing the proposal to advance without opposition.
The confirmation of Saudi Arabia as the 2034 host comes alongside FIFA’s ratification of a historic decision to hold the 2030 World Cup across six countries on three continents.
Spain, Portugal, and Morocco will jointly host the tournament, while the opening three matches will be held in Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay to commemorate the centenary of the World Cup, which was first hosted by Uruguay in 1930.
