The Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) announced on Wednesday, December 11, 2024, that Saudi Arabia will host the 2034 World Cup.

Meanwhile, the 2030 tournament has been awarded to Morocco, Spain, and Portugal, with some matches also taking place in South America.

The hosting rights were decided by a unanimous decision among the football nations rather than through a formal vote during a virtual FIFA Congress.

Invoking its principle of rotating its flagship tournament between continents, FIFA only welcomed bids from Asia or Oceania for the 2034 World Cup. The 2026 tournament, the first to involve 48 teams, will be held across North America.

Saudi Arabia emerged as the sole candidate for the 2034 World Cup, paving the way for the tournament’s return to the Gulf region after Qatar hosted it in 2022.

For the 2030 World Cup, FIFA had previously confirmed that the joint bid by Morocco, Spain, and Portugal was the only remaining contender, as all other potential bids had been withdrawn.

Saudi Arabia will become the first country (alone) to host the 2034 World Cup with a 48-team system.

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