AFCON 2025
Saudi Arabia 2033SadudiSaWorld football governing body FIFA has confirmed Saudi Arabia as the host of the 2034 men’s senior world cup.
Also, Morocco, Spain and Portugal were also confirmed as joint hosts of the 2030 edition of the competition
Three matches of 2030 edition will be held in Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay in celebration of the 100th year anniversary of the Men’s FIFA World Cup.
The decision to award the Gulf nation as host as well as the co-hosts of the 2030 competition were reached on Wednesday via a virtual vote by the 211 member association of the body via two separate votes.
The first vote confirmed the three South American nations as centenary hosts while the second selected Morocco, Spain and Portugal as the joint co-hosts and Saudi Arabia as the sole host for the 2034 tournament.
England, Denmark among others showed support for Saudi Arabia but ask FIFA to ensure that there is improvement in human rights protection.
The gulf nation has come under severe criticisms over the years for having human rights crisis which is believed might hinder the countru’s ambition.
Saudi Arabia has also been accused of “sportswashing” by the international media die to its heavy investment across all sports, hosting of major sports events including Tennis ( ATP and WTA) events, the Saudi Pro League which has seen football elites from Europe joins clubs in the country for big money moves, Motorsports, Combat Sports among others.
Saudi Arabia becomes the second Asian country to independently host the FIFA World Cup after Qatar did in 2022.
The gulf nation is set to build 11 stadiums in addition to the four that were recently built as it prepare to host 48 nations across 5 cities.
Saudi Arabia is yet to determine the exact time it would host the competition but the oil-rich nation would likely follow the footsteps of its neighbors who hosted it between November and December 2022 due to the extreme weather condition in the Summer.
