FIFA is set to confirm the hosts of the 2030 and 2034 men’s World Cups on Wednesday, with a three-continent, six-nation bid led by Morocco, Spain, and Portugal to be awarded the former and the latter going to Saudi Arabia.
In October last year, the global soccer governing body said there were no competing bids for the two tournaments, making Wednesday’s decision little more than a formality.
A day before the announcement it was still not clear exactly what format a vote on the decision would adopt, with acceptance by “acclamation” expected rather than a formal vote.
On Tuesday, the Norwegian Football Federation (NFF) said it would vote against the awarding of hosting rights by acclamation and criticized FIFA’s bidding process, saying it was “flawed and inconsistent.”
Bids
Morocco, Spain, and Portugal’s combined proposal will see the 2030 World Cup take place across three continents and six countries to mark the tournament’s centenary, with Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay hosting celebratory games.
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Uruguay hosted the first-ever World Cup in 1930.
Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, and Paraguay had in 2022 submitted a joint bid to host the 2030 World Cup, but FIFA announced last year that Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay would instead each host one match during the tournament.
Saudi Arabia fans support their team during the Asian Cup Round of 16 soccer match between Saudi Arabia and South Korea, at the Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar, January 30, 2024. (Thanassis Stavrakis/AP)
Saudi Arabia will become the second nation from the Middle East to host the quadrennial tournament in 2034, 12 years after neighbors Qatar staged the 2022 edition.
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Australia and Indonesia were in talks over a joint bid for the 2034 tournament but dropped out before Saudi was announced as the sole bidder.
Hurdles
Both bids have already been criticized.
The decision to host the 2030 World Cup across three continents has been panned by climate activists because of the increased emissions from the extra travel required.
FIFA has said it will take measures to “mitigate the environmental impact.”
The 2034 bid by Saudi Arabia has been criticized because of the country’s human rights record and desert climate, much in the same way as the Qatar World Cup.
Argentina’s Lionel Messi holds the trophy aloft as he celebrates with his team at the end of the World Cup final soccer match between Argentina and France at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar, December 18, 2022. (Hassan Ammar/AP)
The Saudi climate will likely force FIFA to hold the tournament in the Northern Hemisphere winter, just like it did in Qatar, where the event took place from late November to mid-December.
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That timeframe will coincide with the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, with reports now suggesting the 2034 tournament could be held in January instead, risking a clash with the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.
FIFA said the Saudi bid did not stipulate a proposed window and that they would collaborate with stakeholders to “determine the optimal timing.”
Human rights
A World Cup in Saudi Arabia will also spark debate about the Kingdom’s record on human rights and lead to accusations of “sportswashing.”
Amnesty International and the Sport & Rights Alliance (SRA) last month urged FIFA to halt the process of picking Saudi as hosts unless it announces major reforms before the vote.
A general views shows the King Abdullah sports city stadium, in Jiddah, Saudi Arabia, January 11, 2020. (Hassan Ammar/AP)
The Kingdom has invested heavily in sport over the last few years, although critics, including women’s rights groups and members of the LGBTQ community, allege it is using its Public Investment Fund to sportswash its human rights record.
The country denies accusations of human rights abuses and says it protects its national security through its laws.
Hammad Albalawi, head of Saudi Arabia’s bid, told Reuters this month that the country has made significant progress in human rights.
The upcoming FIFA World Cup contest will be held in the United States between June-13 July 2025.