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Amid controversy over sportswashing and human rights, Saudi Arabia has been confirmed as the host for the 2034 World Cup.
World football governing body FIFA has confirmed Saudi Arabia as the host nation for the 2034 Men's football World Cup.
The announcement came after a vote at the FIFA Extraordinary Congress meeting on Wednesday, marking a historic moment for the kingdom, which will become the first Middle Eastern nation to host the tournament since Qatar in 2022.
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The decision followed the confirmation of the 2030 World Cup hosts, which will see Spain, Portugal and Morocco join forces as co-hosts for the tournament.
In a nod to the centenary celebrations of the first-ever World Cup in 1930, three opening matches of the 2030 World Cup will be played in Uruguay, Paraguay, and Argentina.
The hosts for both the 2030 and 2034 tournaments were confirmed through two separate votes, with one specifically selecting Uruguay, Paraguay and Argentina to hold the centenary celebrations.
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The other vote confirmed Spain, Portugal, and Morocco as the 2030 hosts, alongside Saudi Arabia's successful bid for 2034.
"We are incredibly excited and honored to have been chosen as the host nation for the 2034 FIFA World Cup," said Saudi Arabia's Football Association President Yasser Al-Misehal.
"This is a momentous occasion for us, and we are committed to ensuring a world-class tournament that will showcase Saudi Arabia’s progress in sports, culture, and hospitality."
Saudi Arabia’s bid for the 2034 World Cup has attracted both praise and criticism.
While the country’s growing investment in sports and infrastructure was highlighted as a key factor, there have been ongoing concerns about the country’s human rights record and its controversial approach to "sportswashing" – using the global appeal of major sporting events to improve its international image.
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Norway, which expressed concerns about the bidding process, abstained from voting for Saudi Arabia as hosts.
"Our decision to abstain was based on the process, not the country itself," explained Norwegian football federation representative Lise Klaveness.
"We believe transparency and fairness should guide these decisions."
Switzerland, too, raised concerns during the meeting, requesting that their observations on the voting process be included in the meeting minutes.
Despite this, the vote passed with overwhelming support.
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The 2034 World Cup will take place across 15 stadiums, four of which have already been completed.
Saudi Arabia's commitment to constructing state-of-the-art infrastructure has been evident, with additional venues planned for the tournament in a bid to boost its global sports profile.
The controversial process and the nation’s ambitions have sparked debate, but FIFA’s decision is clear: Saudi Arabia will host the 2034 World Cup, a milestone for both the kingdom and the world of football.
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