FIFA confirmed on Wednesday that Saudi Arabia will host the 2034 FIFA World Cup, while the 2030 tournament will be co-hosted by Morocco, Spain, and Portugal, with three opening matches held in South America.
The decisions were made in a virtual FIFA Congress, where both bids were approved by acclamation, marking a new chapter in World Cup history.
2030 World Cup: A Centennial Celebration Across Three Continents
The 2030 World Cup, which will mark the centenary of the inaugural tournament in Uruguay, is set to be the most expansive in history.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino described the event as a monumental celebration:
“What better way to celebrate the 100th anniversary in 2030 than to have the World Cup in six countries, in three continents, with 48 teams and 104 epic matches. The world will stand still and will celebrate the 100 years of the World Cup.”
This unique bid will see matches held in Morocco, Spain, and Portugal, with the opening games taking place in Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay to honor the roots of the World Cup.
Uruguay will host the first match at the Centenario Stadium in Montevideo, where the inaugural 1930 World Cup final took place.
The tournament will span across the southern and northern hemispheres, with Spain set to host the majority of the matches, including a potential final at the iconic Santiago Bernabeu or Camp Nou.
Morocco, which has never hosted the World Cup, will become the second African nation to do so, after South Africa in 2010. Portugal will contribute three stadiums, including those in Lisbon and Porto.
Saudi Arabia Secures 2034 World Cup: A Dream Realized
Saudi Arabia’s bid for the 2034 World Cup was unopposed, with the kingdom becoming the sole candidate after other nations, including Australia and Indonesia, withdrew.
The decision marks a historic moment for Saudi Arabia, which has never before hosted a tournament of this magnitude.
The Kingdom has committed to building eight new stadiums to accommodate the expanded 48-team competition.
Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki bin Faisal Al Saud, president of the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee, hailed the decision as a “dream come true” for the Saudi people.
“This is a historic moment for Saudi Arabia and a dream come true for all our 32 million people who simply love the game.”
The event is seen as a major step in the Kingdom’s ongoing Vision 2030 plan, which seeks to modernize the country’s infrastructure and international image.
Yasser Al Misehal, president of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation, echoed the sentiment: “Football lives in our hearts so to host a FIFA World Cup is the ultimate honor and we have been working towards this for a very long time.”
Controversy and Criticism: Human Rights Concerns
Despite the excitement surrounding Saudi Arabia’s successful bid, the decision has not been without controversy.
Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, voiced strong objections, citing concerns over the kingdom’s human rights record, including restrictions on women, free expression, and alleged abuses of migrant workers.
Steve Cockburn, Amnesty International’s head of labor rights and sport, criticized FIFA’s decision, stating: “FIFA’s reckless decision to award the 2034 World Cup to Saudi Arabia without ensuring adequate human rights protections are in place will put many lives at risk.”
Saudi Arabia has denied these accusations, asserting that its laws are designed to protect national security and the well-being of its citizens.
Road to 2026 World Cup Qualification
These quotas are yet to be confirmed for 2030, but here’s how the places were allocated for the 2026 World Cup, which is also a 48-team tournament:
Asian Football Confederation – eight places
Confederation of African Football – nine places
Concacaf (North, Central America and Caribbean) – six places
Conmebol – six places
Oceania Football Confederation – one place
Uefa (Europe) – 16 places
The final two spots will be decided through a play-off tournament featuring six teams.
A Unique 2030 Format: One Tournament, Two Hemispheres
The 2030 World Cup will also be the first to span across multiple hemispheres and seasons, with games taking place in both the southern hemisphere winter and the northern hemisphere summer.
The opening matches in South America will kick off in June, with the tournament concluding in Spain, Portugal, and Morocco in July.
The expanded 48-team format will feature 104 matches, and teams will compete in 12 groups of four, with the top two from each group and the best eight third-place teams advancing to a knockout round.
While the 2026 World Cup will be held across North America, the 2030 and 2034 tournaments will be spread across continents never before featured in World Cup history.
