FIFA has officially announced Saudi Arabia as the host of the 2034 FIFA World Cup.
The decision was made during an online FIFA Congress on Wednesday, where the Middle Eastern nation’s bid was the only one submitted and received the approval of 200 FIFA member federations.
“The vote of the congress is loud and clear,” Gianni Infantino, FIFA president, said.
Saudi Arabia’s bid for the 2034 World Cup has faced criticism since it was proposed in 2023, with some critics pointing to the country’s record on human and women’s rights.
However, FIFA’s bid evaluation team assessed Saudi Arabia’s human rights concerns as only a “medium risk.”
Additionally, FIFA confirmed the decision to host the 2030 World Cup across six countries on three continents.
Spain, Portugal, and Morocco will serve as joint hosts, while Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay will host the opening three matches to mark the World Cup’s centenary.
The tournament was first held in 1930 in Uruguay.
FIFA had revealed the host nations for the 2030 World Cup during the Congress in 2023.