FIFA president Gianni Infantino confirmed Wednesday the host nations for the 2030 and 2034 World Cups.
There are a few, but the one that raised the most eyebrows is the long-expected news that Saudi Arabia will host the 2034 tournament.
Saudi Arabia’s bid was viewed as controversial in part because FIFA decided to combine the voting on the 2030 and 2034 tournaments, meaning nations would have to vote against the six nations vying for 2030 in order to register dissatisfaction with the prospective 2034 hosts, which has dealt with high-profile protests of their human rights record.
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The 2030 World Cup will be hosted by neighboring nations Portugal, Spain, and Morocco, with the first three games held in Paraguay, Uruguay, and Argentina to make the 100th anniversary — or Centenary — of the first World Cup.
The 1930 World Cup was held at three stadia, highlighted by the Estadio Centenario in Montevideo, Uruguay. Uruguay beat Argentina in the final, with Yugoslavia and the United States losing 6-1 in the semifinal round.
Will the 2034 World Cup be held in the summer?
It is unclear whether the 2034 World Cup will be held in the summer or winter, as like Qatar 2022 the climate is very hot in the summer months. It’s expected that clubs would take great umbrage at the idea of again disrupting their schedules.
Temperatures have been rising globally, and summer temperatures in Saudi Arabia regularly exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
The 2022 World Cup also featured fewer teams, meaning clubs would have to take a longer break in order to accommodate a winter World Cup. This break would also affect the club seasons before and after the World Cup year.
Additionally, FIFA is currently expected to host a club World Cup in the Summer of 2033.
