Saudi Arabia has been confirmed as the host of the 2034 FIFA World Cup, with the Kingdom promising to deliver 'a tournament of a lifetime.' The announcement was made during an extraordinary FIFA Congress session on Wednesday.
The Kingdom will host 48 nations across five proposed host cities—Riyadh, Jeddah, Al Khobar, Abha, and NEOM—marking the first time more teams and fans will gather in one place for the prestigious event.
Abdulaziz bin Turki bin Faisal Al Saud, Minister of Sport and President of the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee, described the hosting rights as a historic moment for the country. 'This is a historic moment for Saudi Arabia and a dream come true for all our 32 million people who simply love the game,' he said in a statement. 'The Kingdom is on a remarkable journey of transformation under Vision 2030, and today is another huge step forward that reflects and celebrates our progress while looking ahead to an even brighter future.'
Saudi Arabia's bid, titled 'Growing. Together,' outlines ambitious plans to host the World Cup across five cities and in 15 state-of-the-art stadiums. The centerpiece will be the new King Salman International Stadium in Riyadh, which will host the opening match, final, and serve as the home of the Saudi National Football Team.
The tournament will feature ten FIFA Fan Festival sites, including one at King Salman Park in Riyadh and another along the iconic Jeddah Waterfront. The compact tournament concept aims to provide an exceptional experience for players, fans, and officials, with short travel times and well-connected transport links.
Fans will also have the opportunity to explore Saudi Arabia's eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites, enjoy the country's distinctive architecture, delicious food, vibrant art scene, live music events, and the warm Saudi hospitality known as 'hafawah.'
In a related development, FIFA confirmed that Morocco, Spain, and Portugal will jointly host the 2030 World Cup, with three games also taking place in South America. The 2030 tournament marks the centenary of the first World Cup held in Uruguay, and the joint bid by Morocco, Spain, and Portugal will include one game in South America.
Yasser Al Misehal, President of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation, expressed his excitement about hosting the World Cup. 'Football lives in our hearts, and to host a FIFA World Cup is the ultimate honor,' he said. 'We promise to put on a tournament of a lifetime that leaves a lasting positive impact for the future of football, for players, and for fans.'
The 2030 World Cup will be the first to involve three continental confederations—Europe, Africa, and South America—while the 2026 tournament, the first with 48 teams, will take place across North America.
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