FIFA is set to officially announce the hosts for the 2030 and 2034 men’s World Cups on Wednesday. This widely anticipated decision, which is expected to be a formality given the lack of competing bids, will see the 2030 tournament awarded to a unique three-continent, six-nation bid led by Morocco, Spain, and Portugal, while Saudi Arabia is poised to host the 2034 edition. The announcement follows FIFA’s October 2023 revelation that no rival bids had been submitted for either tournament. However, the process has faced some criticism, particularly regarding the bidding procedure, environmental concerns, and human rights issues.
A Historic 2030 World Cup Across Three Continents
The 2030 World Cup will mark the 100th anniversary of the tournament, which was first held in Uruguay in 1930. To commemorate this milestone, FIFA has approved a groundbreaking format where matches will be held across three continents and six countries. While Morocco, Spain, and Portugal will host the majority of the tournament, Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay will stage celebratory matches to honor the event’s origins. Uruguay, the original host of the first World Cup, will host one of the opening matches, alongside Argentina and Paraguay. This arrangement follows a reshaped joint bid by Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, and Paraguay in 2022, with South American nations agreeing to host only a limited number of games.
Saudi Arabia to Host the 2034 World Cup
Saudi Arabia, the only bidder for the 2034 World Cup, will become the second Middle Eastern country to host the tournament, following Qatar’s controversial staging of the 2022 edition. Saudi Arabia’s bid faced no competition after Australia and Indonesia, who had initially considered a joint bid, withdrew from the race.
