Saudi Arabia has officially been selected to host the 2034 FIFA Men’s World Cup, while the 2030 edition will take place across Spain, Portugal, and Morocco, with special celebratory matches in three South American nations. FIFA President Gianni Infantino confirmed the decisions during an extraordinary virtual Congress on Wednesday.
Both the 2030 and 2034 World Cups had single bids, leading to their confirmation by acclamation.
“We are bringing football to more countries, and the increased number of teams has not diluted the quality. It has instead expanded opportunities,” Infantino said of the 2030 tournament. He highlighted the significance of celebrating the World Cup’s centenary in 2030 with a unique format featuring six countries, three continents, 48 teams, and 104 matches.
The 2030 World Cup will see Spain, Portugal, and Morocco as main hosts, with Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay staging one-off matches to commemorate the first World Cup held in Uruguay in 1930. While Argentina and Spain have previously hosted the tournament, it will be a debut for Morocco, Portugal, and Paraguay.
In 2034, Saudi Arabia will become the second Middle Eastern country to host the tournament, following Qatar’s successful 2022 World Cup. The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) strongly supported Saudi Arabia’s bid, while Australia and Indonesia, initially exploring a joint bid, withdrew.
FIFA had clarified in 2023 that the 2034 tournament would be awarded to a nation in the Asia or Oceania region. With Saudi Arabia’s bid left uncontested, its selection became almost certain.
Notably, the Norwegian Football Federation criticized FIFA’s bidding process as “flawed and inconsistent,” stating its opposition to awarding hosting rights by acclamation.
These decisions mark a new chapter for global football, bringing the sport to diverse regions while celebrating its rich history and growing global appeal.
