2034 FIFA World Cup explained

Tourney Name:FIFA World Cup
Other Titles:Arabic: كَأْسُ الْعَالَمِ لِكُرَةِ الْقَدَم 2034
Year:2034
Confederations:6
Num Teams:48
Country:Saudi Arabia
Dates:TBA; Mid-Late 2034
Venues:15
Cities:5
Prevseason:2030
Nextseason:2038

The 2034 FIFA World Cup will be the 25th FIFA World Cup, a quadrennial international football tournament contested by the men's national teams of the member associations of FIFA. It is set to be hosted in Saudi Arabia, as it was the only nation to submit a bid in time for FIFA's deadline of 31 October 2023.[1]

FIFA restricted the hosting eligibility to Asia or Oceania after it made the decision to host the 2030 FIFA World Cup on three continents (Africa, Europe and South America). Observers characterized this as paving the path for Saudi Arabia to host the 2034 edition by substantially reducing potential competing host bids.[2] FIFA also unexpectedly sped up the bidding timeline by at least three years, which hindered other potential bidders. According to reporting by The New York Times, FIFA president Gianni Infantino played a key role in the selection of Saudi Arabia as host.

Host selection

The bidding process for the 2034 World Cup began on 4 October 2023 and initially used the same requirements as the 2030 World Cup. FIFA later lowered the requirement for the number of existing stadiums with a minimum capacity of 40,000 from seven to four.[3] Due to FIFA's confederation rotation policy, only member associations from the Asian Football Confederation and Oceania Football Confederation were eligible to host.[4] FIFA made the decision to host the 2030 World Cup in three continents (Africa, Europe and South America) and the 2026 World Cup was set to be held in North America, which meant that the 2034 World Cup would necessarily have to be held in Asia or Oceania.[2]

On 31 October 2023, FIFA president Gianni Infantino announced that Saudi Arabia would host the 2034 World Cup, making it the third time the Asian Football Confederation has or will host the World Cup, after the 2002 tournament, which was hosted in Japan and South Korea and the 2022 tournament in Qatar, as well as the second time being held in the Middle East, after Qatar 2022.[5]

According to investigative reporting by The New York Times, Infantino played a key role in the selection of Saudi Arabia as host. He engaged in private diplomacy on Saudi Arabia's behalf, as he explored whether Greece would be willing to partner with Saudi Arabia to host the 2030 World Cup. When Spain, Portugal and Morocco announced that they would bid together for the 2030 World Cup, the Saudis considered it unlikely that the bid could be beaten. Thus, the Saudis backed out of bidding for 2030. FIFA subsequently made two moves that The New York Times described as "curious", as FIFA announced that the first three games of the 2030 World Cup would be played in Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay while the rest would be played in Spain, Morocco and Portugal. This decision ruled Europe, Africa and South America out as potential bidders for the 2034 World Cup, and meant that the only potential bidders could be from Asia or Oceania. FIFA also unexpectedly sped up the bidding process for the 2034 World Cup, giving only 25 days for interested nations to express their intent to host. Within minutes, Saudi Arabia announced that its intentions to host.[6]

Bids

See main article: 2034 FIFA World Cup bids.

Saudi Arabia

See main article: Saudi Arabia 2034 FIFA World Cup bid. After Saudi Arabia abandoned its 2030 bid alongside Greece and Egypt, they switched their focus to a solo 2034 bid. Similar strategies to the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, which was held in NovemberDecember as opposed to the usual summer scheduling, may be used to mitigate the country's summer heat, though SAFF insisted on a plan to host in the summer.[7] The country's bid was announced on 4 October 2023.[8] On 5 October, AFC President Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa backed Saudi Arabia's bid.[9] On the 9th, Saudi Arabia announced that it submitted the official letter of intent and signed the declaration to FIFA to bid to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup, and that over 70 member associations already pledged their support for its bid.[10]

Declined bids

Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)

The first bid for the 2034 FIFA World Cup was proposed as a collective bid by the members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ten countries: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam). The idea of a combined ASEAN bid was mooted as early as January 2011, when the former Football Association of Singapore President, Zainudin Nordin, said in a statement that the proposal was made at an ASEAN Foreign Ministers meeting, despite the fact that countries cannot bid (as that's up to national associations).[19] In 2013, Nordin and Special Olympics Malaysia President, Datuk Mohamed Faisol Hassan, recalled the idea for ASEAN to jointly host a World Cup. Under FIFA rules as of 2017, the 2030 World Cup cannot be held in Asia (AFC) as Asian Football Confederation members are excluded from the bidding following the selection of Qatar in 2022.[20] [21] Therefore, the earliest bid by an AFC member could be made for 2034.[22] [23] [24]

Later, Malaysia withdrew from involvement, but Singapore and other ASEAN countries continued the campaign to submit a joint bid for the World Cup in 2034. In February 2017, ASEAN held talks on launching a joint bid during a visit by FIFA President Gianni Infantino to Yangon, Myanmar.[22] On 1 July 2017, Vice General Chairman of the Football Association of Indonesia Joko Driyono said that Indonesia and Thailand were set to lead a consortium of Southeast Asian nations in the bid. Driyono added that due to geographic and infrastructure considerations and the expanded format (48 teams), at least two or three ASEAN countries combined would be in a position necessary to host matches.[24] [25]

In September 2017, the Thai League 1 Deputy CEO Benjamin Tan, at the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Council meeting, confirmed that his Association "put in their interest to bid and co-host" the 2034 World Cup with Indonesia.[19] [24] On the same occasion, the General Secretary of the AFF, Dato Sri Azzuddin Ahmad, confirmed that Indonesia and Thailand would submit a joint bid.[24] Indonesia was the first Asian team and the only Southeast Asian country to have participated in the World Cup,[26] when the territory was known as the Dutch East Indies.

However, in June 2018, FIFA executive committee member, Yang di-Pertuan Agong and Sultan of Pahang, Tengku Abdullah, who is also the former president of the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM), expressed interest in joining the two countries in hosting the World Cup together.[27] The same year, Vietnam expressed interest in joining the bid for the same competition, despite some infrastructure concerns.[28] The four countries jointly hosted a football event before during the 2007 AFC Asian Cup.

In June 2019, the Prime Minister of Thailand, Prayut Chan-o-cha, announced that all 10 nations of ASEAN would launch a joint-bid to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup,[11] being the first to submit a ten-country joint bid in the FIFA World Cup history.

On 9 October 2019, five ASEAN countries officially proposed hosting the 2034 FIFA World Cup. Thailand is to lead the initiative.[29]

On 15 June 2022, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, in his role as chair of ASEAN, said he would urge Southeast Asian leaders to bid to host the FIFA World Cup in 2034 or 2038.[30]

Australia and New Zealand with other hosts

After its failed bid to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Australia considered a joint bid with neighbouring New Zealand, an OFC member with which they co-hosted the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup.[31] [32] Australia re-established this intention in August 2021, shortly after Brisbane's success in bidding to host the 2032 Summer Olympics.[33] A joint bid with Indonesia and other ASEAN nations instead of New Zealand was also discussed by Football Australia.[34] However, Indonesia remained reluctant to the joint bid with Australia, considering the country was also taking part in the ASEAN bid for the same competition.[35] An alternative suggestion was for Australia and New Zealand to partner alongside Malaysia and Singapore, instead of Indonesia even though both countries were also involved in the ASEAN bid as well.[13] [14]

Football Australia chief executive, James Johnson, said his organisation was "exploring the possibility" following FIFA's deadline for bids to be submitted by 31 October 2023.[36] A major challenge to the bid however was the need to construct more stadiums or expand current stadiums to FIFA standards. Indonesia was in talks with Australia, Singapore, and Malaysia with a joint bid, though they pulled out on 18 October, backing the Saudi bid instead like much of the AFC.

On 31 October, Football Australia announced that it would not bid to host the 2034 World Cup, leaving Saudi Arabia as the sole candidate. [37]

Venues

The official list of stadiums was confirmed on 31 July 2024 by the bid book. The tournament will be held in Riyadh, Jeddah, Al Khobar, Abha, Neom, and King Abdullah Economic City with a total of 15 stadiums. The King Salman Stadium can host the opening and final.[38]

List of candidate host cities
City Stadium Capacity
45,428
58,432
(New) 46,096
Jeddah Central Development Stadium (New) 45,794
King Abdullah Economic City Stadium (New) 45,700
Aramco Stadium (New) 46,096
Neom Stadium46,010
King Salman International Stadium (New) 92,000
70,000
(New) 47,060
46,979
46,865
46,319
New Murabba Stadium (New) 46,010
Roshn Stadium (New) 46,000
In addition to the venues, 2 FIFA Fan Festival locations were proposed in each of the host cities. The draw of the groups will take place at the planned Line Convention Center, located in The Line, Neom.

Teams

Qualification

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Saudi Arabia Confirmed as Sole Bidder for 2034 World Cup. The New York Times. 31 October 2023. 12 June 2024. Tariq. Panja.
  2. News: Panja . Tariq . 4 October 2023 . FIFA Will Host 2030 World Cup on Three Continents . The New York Times . 0362-4331 . 31 October 2023 . 31 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231031144056/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/04/world/americas/2030-world-cup.html . live .
  3. News: Snape . Jack . 8 October 2023 . Fifa's relaxed stadium rule clears path for Saudi Arabia to host 2034 World Cup . The Guardian . 18 January 2024 . 18 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240118221200/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/oct/09/fifa-stadium-rule-relaxed-saudi-arabia-world-cup-2034 . live .
  4. 4 October 2023 . FIFA Council takes key decisions on FIFA World Cup editions in 2030 and 2034 . FIFA . 4 October 2023 . 12 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231012092247/https://www.fifa.com/about-fifa/organisation/fifa-council/media-releases/fifa-council-takes-key-decisions-on-fifa-world-cup-tm-editions-in-2030-and-2034 . live .
  5. Web site: Saudi Arabia sole bidder to host 2034 World Cup, FIFA says . Al Jazeera . 1 November 2023 . 31 October 2023 . 1 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231101165549/https://www.aljazeera.com/sports/2023/10/31/saudi-arabia-to-host-fifa-world-cup-2034-australia-drops-out . live .
  6. News: Panja . Tariq . 15 November 2023 . Inside Man: How FIFA Guided the World Cup to Saudi Arabia . The New York Times . 0362-4331 . 17 November 2023 . 17 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231117041337/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/15/world/middleeast/saudi-arabia-fifa-world-cup.html . live .
  7. Web site: Saudi Arabia switches FIFA World Cup bid from 2030 to 2034. 1 September 2023. Inside the Games. 4 September 2023. 27 September 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230927023836/https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1140436/saudi-arabia-fifa-world-cup-2034-switch. live.
  8. News: 4 October 2023 . Morocco-Spain-Portugal to host 2030 World Cup, Saudi Arabia to bid for 2034 . Al Jazeera . 4 October 2023 . 5 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231005031647/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/10/4/morocco-spain-portugal-to-host-2030-world-cup-saudi-arabia-to-bid-for-2034 . live .
  9. Web site: AFC President welcomes FWC hosting decision, backs SAFF intent to bid for 2034 edition . 5 October 2023 . 5 October 2023 . the-afc.com . . 4 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231004194324/https://www.the-afc.com/en/about_afc/about_afc/the_president/news/afc_president_welcomes_fwc_hosting_decision_backs_saff_intent_to_bid_for_2034_edition_3.html . live.
  10. Web site: Saudi Arabian Football Federation submits official letter of intent to bid for 2034 FIFA World Cup . 9 October 2023 . 9 October 2023 . saff.com.sa . Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) . 9 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231009115243/https://saff.com.sa/en/news.php?id=2572 . live .
  11. Web site: Asean nations to 'launch joint bid' to host 2034 FIFA World Cup . 26 June 2019 . www.aljazeera.com . 13 September 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200913105919/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/06/asean-countries-launch-joint-bid-host-2034-world-cup-190624034641745.html . live.
  12. Web site: Australia in stunning World Cup bid. 27 June 2019. News.com.au. 27 June 2019. 14 November 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211114110524/https://www.news.com.au/sport/football/australia-partners-with-indonesia-for-shock-world-cup-bid/news-story/7fcb6c5d239ec79753ff9b8728a725fd . live.
  13. Web site: How Singapore and Malaysia could help bring a men's FIFA World Cup to Australia. Vince. Rugari. 12 August 2023. The Sydney Morning Herald. 4 September 2023. 4 September 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230904035037/https://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/how-singapore-and-malaysia-could-help-bring-a-men-s-fifa-world-cup-to-australia-20230810-p5dvj2.html. live.
  14. Web site: NZ Football engaged in 2034 World Cup talks with bid deadline fast approaching. 15 October 2023. Stuff. 15 October 2023. 15 October 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231015040248/https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/world-cup/133119538/nz-football-engaged-in-2034-world-cup-talks-with-bid-deadline-fast-approaching. live.
  15. Web site: Indonesia discussing joint bid for 2034 World Cup with Australia . 11 October 2023 . RTÉ . 11 October 2023 . 12 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231012011807/https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2023/1011/1410165-indonesia-discussing-joint-bid-for-2034-with-australia/ . live .
  16. Web site: China to Overtake US economy and Host World Cup in 2034 . Hong Soon-do . 19 June 2017 . Huffington Post . 15 March 2018 . 27 March 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190327125702/https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/china-to-overtake-us-economy-and-host-world-cup-in_us_594684b1e4b0d188d027ff67 . live .
  17. News: Porteous . James . 8 May 2017 . China denies submitting official bid for World Cup 2034 – but it seems it's only a matter of deciding what year . South China Morning Post . 25 June 2019 . 26 June 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190626032132/https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/2093436/china-denies-submitting-official-bid-world-cup-2034-it-seems-its-only . live .
  18. Web site: Невозможно поверить! Казахстан и Узбекистан хотят провести чемпионат мира в 2034 году . 21 July 2023 . sports.ru . ru . 12 October 2023 . 13 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231013035317/https://www.sports.ru/football/1115317044-kazaxstan-i-uzbekistan-mogut-provesti-chm.html . live .
  19. News: Teng Kiat . Teo . 5 July 2017 . Singapore strong 'host' candidate for joint 2034 World Cup finals bid . . Singapore . 11 April 2018 . 19 April 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220419100437/https://www.todayonline.com/sports/football/singapore-strong-host-candidate-joint-2034-world-cup-finals-bid . live .
  20. News: Hill . Tim . 9 March 2017 . Trump travel ban could prevent United States hosting World Cup . . 11 April 2017 . 14 November 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211114173744/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/mar/09/donald-trump-travel-ban-could-prevent-united-states-hosting-football-world-cup . live .
  21. News: Rumsby . Ben . 14 October 2016 . England's hopes of hosting 2030 World Cup given boost . . 14 January 2017 . 25 October 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161025140753/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2016/10/14/england-given-major-2030-world-cup-boost-after-fifa-block-china/ . live .
  22. News: 20 February 2017 . ASEAN mulling 2034 World Cup bid: Myanmar . . AFP . 11 April 2018 . 7 April 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220407225315/https://www.mmtimes.com/sports/25019-asean-mulling-2034-world-cup-bid-myanmar.html . dead .
  23. News: 6 July 2017 . Indonesia ready to lead Asean bid for 2034 World Cup . . AFP . 11 April 2018 . 17 February 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220217033227/https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/indonesia-ready-to-lead-asean-bid-for-2034-world-cup . live .
  24. News: Dudley . George . 26 September 2017 . AFF Backs Indonesia-Thailand Bid for 2034 FIFA World Cup . . 10 April 2018 . 31 October 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181031050819/http://www.sportspromedia.com/news/aff-backs-indonesia-thailand-bid-for-2034-fifa-world-cup . live .
  25. News: 5 July 2017 . Football: Indonesia to lead South-east Asian 2034 World Cup bid . The Straits Times . AFP . 11 April 2018 . 17 February 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220217032929/https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/football-indonesia-to-lead-southeast-asian-2034-world-cup-bid . live .
  26. Web site: 1938 FIFA World Cup France. FIFA.com. FIFA. 6 June 2018. 16 April 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220416082749/https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/mens/worldcup/1938france. live.
  27. Web site: Malaysia voices support for Asean 2034 World Cup bid. New Straits Times. 23 June 2019. 20 November 2021. 20 November 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211120083124/https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2019/06/498531/malaysia-voices-support-asean-2034-world-cup-bid. live.
  28. News: Football: Singapore part of five-nation Asean bid for 2034 World Cup. The Straits Times. 10 October 2019. Low. Lin Fhoong. 20 November 2021. 20 November 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211120083123/https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/football-singapore-part-of-five-nation-asean-bid-for-2034-world-cup. live.
  29. Web site: Ken Thomas . ASEAN officially proposed to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup, including Thailand & Vietnam . Live Sport Asia . 10 October 2019 . 6 March 2020 . 11 November 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191111121753/http://www.livesportasia.com/football/fifa-wc/asean-officially-proposed-to-host-the-2034-fifa-world-cup-including-thailand-vietnam-lsa1015 . dead .
  30. News: PM Hun Sen Says He Will Urge ASEAN to Bid to Host 2034 World Cup . EAC News . 15 June 2022 . 9 November 2022 . 9 November 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221109144508/https://eacnews.asia/home/details/13327 . live .
  31. News: Cleaver . Dylan . 13 April 2015 . Fifa World Cup: NZ dream to host Cup . . 25 June 2019 . 13 September 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200913104407/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11431616 . live .
  32. News: Ogden . Mark . 13 June 2018 . Potential 2030 World Cup hosts include Uruguay/Argentina, England . ESPN . 25 June 2019 . 8 April 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220408003407/https://www.espn.com/soccer/fifa-world-cup/4/blog/post/3523735/who-could-host-the-2030-world-cup-the-early-frontrunners . live .
  33. News: Australia plan to bid for FIFA Men's World Cup. Sports Entertainment Network. 12 August 2021. 12 August 2021. 17 February 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220217030329/https://www.sen.com.au/news/2021/08/11/australia-plan-to-bid-for-fifa-mens-world-cup/. live.
  34. News: New Zealand or Indonesia? Australia needs co-host to get World Cup bid off ground. Sydney Morning Herald. 3 September 2021. 19 April 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220419181326/https://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/new-zealand-or-indonesia-australia-needs-co-host-to-get-world-cup-bid-off-ground-20210812-p58iad.html. live.
  35. News: Australia, Indonesia held talks for joint 2034 World Cup bid. Reuters. 27 June 2019. 12 November 2021. 8 April 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220408003404/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-soccer-australia-worldcup-idUSKCN1TS0DT. live.
  36. Web site: Australia given 25-day deadline to challenge Saudi Arabia's 2034 World Cup bid. Jack. Snape. 5 October 2023. The Guardian. 5 October 2023. 5 October 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231005123552/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/oct/05/australia-fifa-world-cup-2034-bid-saudi-arabia-challenge. live.
  37. News: Saudi Arabia set to host 2034 World Cup . BBC Sport . 31 October 2023 . 31 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231031143256/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/67271423 . live .
  38. Web site: The Saudi Arabia FIFA World Cup 2034 Bid Book . 31 July 2024 . 31 July 2024 .

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