FIFA has officially announced the host nations for the 2030 and 2034 men’s World Cup tournaments during an Extraordinary FIFA Congress meeting conducted via video link, with all 211 member nations participating in the voting process.
The 2030 tournament will be a unique centenary celebration, with Spain, Portugal, and Morocco serving as primary hosts. Additionally, three matches will be held in Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay to commemorate 100 years of the competition.
Saudi Arabia has been confirmed as the sole host for the 2034 World Cup. Currently, four of the 15 planned stadiums for the 2034 tournament have been constructed.
The voting process was conducted through ‘acclamation,’ with nations effectively casting their votes beforehand. FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafstrom confirmed that all member associations had participated in the selection.
Several national football associations provided context around their support. The English Football Association backed both bids after receiving assurances about fan safety, stating that both proposals met FIFA’s hosting criteria.
Some nations expressed nuanced perspectives. Norway abstained due to concerns about the bidding process, while the Swiss Football Association supported the Saudi bid with a call for human rights monitoring. The Danish Football Union supported the bids but remained critical of the overall selection process.
The selection has reignited discussions about ‘sportswashing,’ with critics pointing to Saudi Arabia’s attempts to improve its international reputation through significant sports investments.
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