Earlier this month, Spain, Portugal, and Morocco were granted the hosting rights for the 2030 World Cup, marking the return of the prestigious football tournament to Spanish soil for the first time since 1982. Saudi Arabia, which had joined forces with Greece and Egypt in a coalition to bid for the 2030 event, was among the unsuccessful candidates. However, on the same day, the Saudi Arabian Football Federation declared its intention to bid for the 2034 World Cup.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has recently announced that Saudi Arabia has been chosen as the host for the 2034 World Cup. This will mark the second time in 12 years that the World Cup will be held in the Middle East, following Qatar’s hosting of the tournament last year. Given the extreme temperatures in the region, which led to the 2022 World Cup being held in the winter, it is highly likely that a similar scheduling adjustment will be necessary for the 2034 event, now that Saudi Arabia has been confirmed as the host.