Saudi Arabia Officially Announced As Host of 2034 FIFA World Cup

The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) has officially announced Saudi Arabia as the host of the 2034 FIFA World Cup.

The decision was made at the FIFA Extraordinary Congress meeting held on Wednesday.

Saudi Arabia will become the second Middle Eastern nation to host the tournament, following Qatar’s hosting in 2022.

The 2034 edition of the World Cup will feature a 48-team tournament, with matches held across 15 stadiums in five host cities in Saudi Arabia: Riyadh, Jeddah, Khobar, Abha, and Neom.

The King Salman Stadium in Riyadh, with a 92,000 spectator capacity, is expected to host the opening and final matches.

The FIFA Congress also confirmed Morocco, Spain, and Portugal as hosts of the 2030 World Cup, with Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay staging celebratory games.

Saudi Arabia’s hosting of the 2034 World Cup has been met with controversy due to the kingdom’s human rights record and discriminatory laws.

Norway’s football federation abstained from the vote, citing concerns over the bidding process.