When did the bidding process for the 2034 FIFA World Cup officially begin?
The bidding process for the 2034 FIFA World Cup officially began on the 4th of October 2023. This timeline moved with unusual speed compared to previous tournaments.
Short answers, pulled from the story.
The bidding process for the 2034 FIFA World Cup officially began on the 4th of October 2023. This timeline moved with unusual speed compared to previous tournaments.
Five cities were selected to host matches: Riyadh, Jeddah, Khobar, Neom, and Abha. A total of 15 stadiums will be used for the tournament across these locations.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino announced that Saudi Arabia would host the event on the 31st of October 2023. The decision was formally confirmed during an Extraordinary FIFA Congress meeting in Zürich on the 11th of December 2024.
Reports from May 2025 indicated numerous deaths among migrant workers due to decapitation, electrocution, and falls from heights. Amnesty International stated that the human cost of awarding the World Cup to Saudi Arabia was high if conditions remained unchanged.
Prince Khalid bin Bandar Al Saud stated on the 12th of February 2025 that alcohol would not be sold during the tournament. This ban applies to all venues including hotels hosting matches and any location where fans might gather to watch games.