Saudi Arabia Confirmed As Host Of The FIFA World Cup 2034
FIFA World Cup 2034: FIFA is expected to announce the hosts of the 2030 and 2034 men’s World Cups on Wednesday. The 2030 World Cup will be awarded to a unique three-continent, six-nation bid led by Morocco, Spain, and Portugal, while Saudi Arabia will be named the host for the 2034 tournament.
In October of last year, FIFA announced that there were no competing bids for the 2030 and 2034 World Cups. This made Wednesday’s decision largely a formality, with Morocco, Spain, and Portugal set to host the 2030 tournament, and Saudi Arabia confirmed as the host for 2034.
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Saudi Arabia Confirmed As Host Of The FIFA World Cup 2034
A day before the announcement, it was still unclear what format the vote on the decision would take, with acceptance by “acclamation” anticipated rather than a formal vote.
On Tuesday, the Norwegian Football Federation (NFF) stated that it would vote against awarding the hosting rights by acclamation and criticized FIFA’s bidding process, calling it “flawed and inconsistent.”
Morocco, Spain, and Portugal’s joint proposal for the 2030 World Cup will span three continents and six countries to commemorate the tournament’s centenary, with Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay hosting celebratory matches. Saudi Arabia will become the second Middle Eastern country to host the World Cup in 2034, following Qatar’s hosting of the 2022 edition.
Australia and Indonesia had been in discussions about a joint bid for the FIFA World Cup 2034 tournament but withdrew before Saudi Arabia was confirmed as the sole bidder.
Challenges Ahead Of FIFA World Cup 2034:
Both bids have faced criticism. The decision to host the 2030 World Cup across three continents has been criticized by climate activists due to the increased emissions from extra travel. FIFA has said it will take steps to reduce the environmental impact.
On the day FIFA officially announces Saudi Arabia as the host of the 2034 World Cup, Western media predictably revives its rhetoric on human rights, framing football as a privilege reserved for them..
Yet, these same voices remain silent about Israel’s full FIFA membership and… pic.twitter.com/azv00W6c4F— Ibrahim Khadra (@IbrahimKhadra) December 11, 2024
Saudi Arabia’s 2034 bid has been criticized for the country’s human rights record and desert climate, similar to the concerns raised about the Qatar World Cup. The heat in Saudi Arabia may force FIFA to schedule the tournament in winter, like Qatar’s 2022 event. This would overlap with Ramadan, and reports suggest the 2034 World Cup might be moved to January, potentially clashing with the Winter Olympics. FIFA stated that the Saudi bid did not specify a timing and that they will work with stakeholders to find the best schedule.
FIFA ignore human rights and sportswashing concerns to hand 2034 World Cup to Saudi Arabia 🤝🇸🇦https://t.co/JumltfhsOd… pic.twitter.com/YB7knUxBuM
— MOZE (@Mozeserugo) December 11, 2024
Human Rights:
A World Cup in Saudi Arabia will raise concerns about the country’s human rights record and accusations of ‘sportswashing’. Amnesty International and the Sport & Rights Alliance (SRA) called on FIFA to halt the bidding process unless Saudi Arabia announces major reforms before the vote.
Saudi Arabia has invested heavily in sports in recent years, but critics, including women’s rights groups and LGBTQ advocates, argue that the Kingdom is using its investments to improve its image while ignoring human rights issues. The country denies these accusations, saying its laws are in place to protect national security.
Hammad Albalawi, head of Saudi Arabia’s bid, told Reuters this month that the country has made significant progress in human rights.
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