Saudi Arabia confirmed as host for 2034 FIFA World Cup
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FIFA confirmed on Wednesday afternoon that Saudi Arabia will host the 2034 FIFA World Cup. The announcement was met with widespread celebration across the Kingdom and the broader region, as Saudi Arabia prepares to welcome the global football community to its soil.
The Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) marked the occasion by sharing a message from Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on its official X account.
“We look forward to hosting an exceptional and unprecedented edition of the FIFA World Cup by harnessing our strengths and capabilities to bring joy to football fans around the world,” the message read.
During a special ceremony in Riyadh, Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal, Minister of Sport and President of the Saudi Arabian Olympic and Paralympic Committee, along with SAFF President Yasser Al-Misehal, received the official FIFA World Cup 2034 hosting certificate from FIFA.
Prince Abdulaziz expressed the Kingdom’s vision for the tournament, saying, “We will host the best version of the World Cup in history, and we will achieve our dream of hosting this tournament on our land.”
The announcement is seen as a significant milestone for Saudi Arabia’s growing influence in international sports, highlighting its ambitions to host world-class events. This decision also complements the Kingdom's Vision 2030 strategy, which aims to diversify the economy and promote sports as a key pillar of national development.
Alongside the 2034 announcement, FIFA officially approved a multi-nation bid by Spain, Portugal and Morocco to co-host the 2030 World Cup. This six-nation collaboration will also see Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay each hosting one of the tournament’s 104 games, marking the centenary of the first-ever FIFA World Cup held in Uruguay in 1930.
The co-hosting decision emphasizes FIFA’s commitment to fostering global unity through football while celebrating the sport’s rich history.
The hosting rights for the 2034 World Cup reflect Saudi Arabia’s growing stature in global football, building on previous successes such as hosting major international tournaments and attracting top players to its domestic league. The Kingdom’s promise to deliver “an exceptional and unprecedented edition” underscores its dedication to creating a world-class experience for players, fans and officials alike.