Jump directly to the content

FIFA has finally confirmed the worst-kept secret in football - as the hosts of the next two World Cups were announced.

After a “virtual Congress” of the 211 member national associations, Zurich chiefs announced the 2030 event will be primarily staged in Spain, Portugal and Morocco.

Gianni Infantino speaking at a FIFA congress.
22
Gianni Infantino confirmed the hosts for the 2030 and 2034 World CupsCredit: PA
Argentina's Lionel Messi lifts the World Cup trophy with his team.
22
Lionel Messi's Argentina won the first winter World Cup in Qatar in 2022Credit: PA
Aerial view of the proposed 115,000-capacity Stade Hassan II in Casablanca, Morocco.
22
The 115,000-capacity Stade Hassan II in Casablanca, Morocco will be the biggest football stadium in the worldCredit: Populous
Futuristic World Cup 2034 stadium design.
22
The 2034 World Cup will be staged in Saudi ArabiaCredit: www.dezeen.com
Futuristic World Cup stadium design.
22
Some of the designs for the stadia are utterly crazy and groundbreakingCredit: www.dezeen.com

But to mark the Centenary of the first World Cup, held in Uruguay in 1930, the first three games of the 2030 tournament will all be held in South America - in Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay.

And the Fifa membership also agreed - in a joint decision approved “by acclamation” - that Saudi Arabia would host the 2034 tournament as part of the Gulf state's £2.5TRILLION ($3.2trillion) mega project.

Both host decisions had been signposted 14 months ago after Fifa President Gianni Infantino cut a deal with South American chiefs to open the way for the Saudis.

Since then, Fifa have gone through a formal “evaluation” process of the two bids - which both unsurprisingly passed with flying colours.

READ MORE IN FOOTBALL

But Infantino left no room for any criticism as he ensured there was no way for nations to raise issues such as human rights in Saudi without voting against BOTH bids.

While the FA meekly fell in line with Fifa - with Wembley chiefs mulling a 2029 Women’s World Cup bid and unwilling to damage the chances of that succeeding - the Norwegian and Danish FAs did both register their frustration at the mechanism.

Norwegian FA President Lise Klaveness made it clear she would abstain rather than vote in favour.

Denmark did support the decision but stated it “expects Fifa to follow up on demands for human rights, freedom of expression and equal access to World Cup matches”.

FOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS

Meanwhile, the Swiss FA’s support came alongside a demand for Fifa to establish “independent bodies to guarantee human rights and transparency” in the Gulf state.

Spain has proposed 11 stadia in nine cities, with six cities put forward by Morocco and Lisbon and Porto in Portugal.

Inside futuristic three-sided stadium built on a cliff and covered with LED screens that could host 2034 World Cup games

One of the Moroccan venues would be the record-breaking Hassan II Stadium in Casablanca, set to be built by 2028 with a staggering capacity of 115,000 - making it the biggest football ground in the world.

However, the epic new stadium may not even get to host the final - with Real Madrid's renovated Santiago Bernabeu or the updated home of Barcelona, the Nou Camp, both keen.

Speaking of futuristic purpose-built new grounds, the Saudi bid foresees 15 venues across five cities, Riyadh, Jeddah, Abha, Khobar and Neom - a city which is still in construction and is not due to be completed until five years AFTER the World Cup.

The various stadium plans include artificial canyons, crystal-like shards and a 45,000-seater venue built into a cliff.

2030 World Cup co-hosts: Spain, Portugal, Morocco;  Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay will each host one match.
2034 Saudi Arabia World Cup venues with stadium names and capacities.
FIFA official announcing Morocco, Portugal, and Spain as 2030 World Cup co-hosts.
22
Morocco, Spain and Portugal saw their bid be successfulCredit: Fifa
A man at a podium announces Saudi Arabia as the host of the 2034 FIFA World Cup.
22
Saudi Arabia got the 2034 hosting rightsCredit: Fifa

But the most ambitious of all will be the Neom Stadium, with the pitch 350m above the ground as part of the bonkers 110-mile-long The Line sideways skyscraper.

However, the King Salman Stadium with a capacity of 92,000 is set to be the grandest venue of all and host the opening match and final.

The state-of-the-art arena will include a royal box, 120 hospitality suites and 300 VIP seats - as well as VVIP areas - plus a shopping centre.

As in Qatar in 2022, it is almost certain to be a winter tournament - causing even more disruption to the traditional European club season - but likely to take place in January 2024 rather than the November-December window of the first Arab World Cup.

Read More on The Sun

And that will undoubtedly spark a backlash from Europe's top leagues - who could go seven weeks without club football - with Prem chief executive Richard Masters likely to be among those fighting the unwanted schedule.

The January 2034 timeline would help to avoid the Islamic Holy month of Ramadan in November and December at the end of the year.

Exterior of Estadio Santiago Bernabéu before a soccer match.
22
The newly-renovated Bernabeu will play a key role in the 2030 tournamentCredit: Getty
Aerial view of the proposed Stade Hassan II in Casablanca, a 115,000-capacity football stadium.
22
The futuristic design in Morocco may not even host the finalCredit: Populous
Aerial view of a futuristic World Cup stadium design.
22
The Neom stadium has been dubbed the 'most unique stadium in the world'Credit: www.dezeen.com
Futuristic World Cup 2034 stadium in Saudi Arabia.
22
The King Abdullah Sports City Stadium will be renovated to increase seating capacityCredit: www.dezeen.com
Futuristic World Cup stadium design built into a cliffside.
22
Prince Mohammed bin Salman Stadium will see a 45,000-seater stadium built into a cliff edge in RiyadhCredit: www.dezeen.com
Aerial view of a futuristic World Cup stadium in Saudi Arabia.
22
The Jeddah Central Development Stadium will be entirely surrounded by buildingsCredit: www.dezeen.com
Aerial view of a futuristic World Cup stadium surrounded by landscaped gardens.
22
King Salman International Stadium will be the country's largest stadium when it completesCredit: www.dezeen.com
Night view of a futuristic stadium lit up, with "Bidding Nation Saudi Arabia" displayed on its exterior.
22
The King Abdullah Economic City Stadium will have a drum-shaped design to host 45,000 footie fansCredit: www.dezeen.com
Aerial view of a futuristic World Cup stadium and surrounding park.
22
Prince Faisal bin Fahd Sports City Stadium will be built from locally-sourced materialsCredit: www.dezeen.com
Futuristic stadium design for the 2034 World Cup.
22
The Qiddiya Coast Stadium plans to become the most colourful stadium of the lotCredit: www.dezeen.com
Aerial view of a futuristic World Cup stadium.
22
The King Khalid University Stadium can boast a spectacular show of lightsCredit: www.dezeen.com
Futuristic World Cup 2034 stadium rendering.
22
The King Saud University Stadium will be renovated for the 2034 World CupCredit: www.dezeen.com
Futuristic World Cup stadium design.
22
The Aramco Stadium is set to have a whirlpool-shaped designCredit: www.dezeen.com
Aerial view of a futuristic World Cup stadium.
22
King Fahd Sports City Stadium will be revamped to increase the capacity from 58,000 to 70,000Credit: www.dezeen.com
Aerial view of a futuristic stadium at night.
22
The South Riyadh Stadium will be an amalgamation of modern design and rich historyCredit: www.dezeen.com
Topics