FIFA has announced that Saudi Arabia will host the 2034 World Cup. This decision, made on Wednesday, December 11, 2024, means the tournament will return to the Gulf region after Qatar hosted it in 2022.
For the 2030 World Cup, FIFA has chosen Morocco, Spain, and Portugal as hosts, with some matches also being played in South America.
The decision on hosting rights was reached unanimously by football nations during a virtual FIFA Congress, without a formal voting process.
FIFA explained that it was following its policy of rotating the World Cup between continents.
For the 2034 tournament, only countries from Asia or Oceania were allowed to bid since the 2026 event, the first to include 48 teams, will take place in North America.
Saudi Arabia was the only country to submit a bid for 2034, securing its place as the host. It will be the first time a single nation hosts a 48-team World Cup under the new format.
For 2030, FIFA confirmed earlier that Morocco, Spain, and Portugal were the sole bidders after other countries withdrew.