FIFA Awards 2034 World Cup to Saudi Arabia

FIFA has officially announced that Saudi Arabia will host the 2034 World Cup, a decision that has drawn significant criticism and was made without a formal vote during an online congress. The congress also awarded the 2030 World Cup to a joint bid from Spain, Portugal, and Morocco, with matches in Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay. FIFA president Gianni Infantino facilitated this process, which some have described as reminiscent of a 'tinpot dictatorship' due to the lack of genuine democratic engagement. Concerns about human rights, environmental impact, and the perception of 'sportswashing' have been raised regarding Saudi Arabia's selection. Despite these issues, FIFA's evaluation report deemed the country's human rights risk as medium, while environmental concerns were categorized as low risk. The decision has been met with dissent from various football associations, including Norway, which criticized FIFA's allocation process as lacking transparency.