-Deborah Akinyosoye
Saudi Arabia was confirmed as host of the 2034 World Cup by FIFA on Wednesday, underlining the Gulf kingdom’s growing influence in world sport despite criticism of the country’s human rights record.
At the same time, a virtual Congress of world football’s governing body confirmed that Morocco, Spain and Portugal will be joint hosts of the 2030 World Cup, which will also see three games played in South America.
According to FIFA President, Gianni Infantino, their joint bid was uncontested and ratified at an online FIFA Congress, with the English and Welsh Football Associations supporting it.
The 2030 World Cup will see the opening three matches played in a different continent, South America.
“FIFA Congress ratified the centenary 2030 World Cup, which will be held across six countries in three continents with the opening three games taking place in Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay,” Sky Sports News said.
Spain, Portugal and Morocco’s 2030 bid had initially been up against a rival South American bid, but an arrangement was made for South America to instead stage the opening three matches of the centenary 2030 finals, with Spain, Portugal and Morocco hosting the rest.
That meant only countries from Asia or Oceania were eligible to host 2034 under FIFA’s rotation system, with FIFA confirming interested nations from those continents had less than a month to put themselves forward.