- Saudi Arabia have been awarded the 2034 FIFA World Cup
- First time that the country has hosted football's biggest tournament
- Controversial decision raises ethical issues
FIFA have revealed the hosts for the 2034 World Cup and it's Saudi Arabia that have been chosen to stage the tournament.
The choice and decision-making process have been controversial, with FIFA coming under significant scrutiny as a result, but Saudi Arabia's growing influence in sport will peak when the Middle Eastern country hosts the world's most significant sporting event.
But why have Saudi Arabia been chosen as hosts, when will the tournament take place and why is the decision controversial?
When were Saudi Arabia awarded the 2034 FIFA World Cup?
FIFA confirmed their decision to award host status to Saudi Arabia for the 2034 World Cup on Wednesday 11 December.
It was announced by the governing body alongside the decision to make Spain, Portugal and Morocco the joint hosts for the 2030 World Cup, with three matches at that tournament being held in Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay to mark the competition's 100-year anniversary.
It's the third tournament hosted in Asia following the 2002 World Cup in South Korea and Japan and the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Why have Saudi Arabia been chosen as 2034 FIFA World Cup hosts?
President of FIFA, Gianni Infantino, spoke about the supposed reasons that Saudi Arabia were awarded the 2034 World Cup during the announcement.
"The 2034 FIFA World Cup - the first of the new century, so to say, of World Cups, will be a spectacular event," said the 54-year-old. "What Saudi Arabia has put forward in their bid is absolutely incredible.
"It's unique, Saudi Arabia, a country that's opening up to the world since a few years with an organisation process which is fully on track and the FIFA World Cup will definitely be a catalyst there for social improvements and social change.
"And we'll work, all together, to open up Saudi Arabia even more to the world to make sure that the world sees [the country], that they witness the welcoming elements of Saudi Arabia: the nature, the culture, the food. Everything, that not just football fans love, but everyone in the world."
Why is the 2034 Saudi Arabia World Cup so controversial?
There are a myriad of reasons why the 2034 World Cup being hosted by Saudi Arabia is so controversial.
One aspect is the country's shocking human rights record. Gender equality in Saudi Arabia is another hot topic, with women and girls severely restricted in what they are able to do, while there is no free press and homosexuality is illegal. These issues were raised ahead of the Qatar World Cup but often fell on deaf ears.
Staging the World Cup has been considered by many charities and human rights activists as an attempt from Saudi Arabia to "sportswash" their reputation and image, using sport to cover up the controversies and issues within the country.
The decision-making process has also come under fire. Saudi Arabia's was the only bid for the 2034 World Cup, with FIFA changing their criteria and eligibility for host nations. The governing body stated that the tournament had to be held in Oceania or Asia due to the 2030 World Cup being held across three continents (Europe, Africa and South America), thus limiting the amount of competition and number of viable bids that could rival Saudi Arabia's.
Not only this, FIFA also shortened the time allotted to those preparing bids to just 25 days, meaning many countries couldn't put together a proposal in time. Unsurprisingly, Saudi Arabia launched their bid almost immediately after said rules were put in place.
When will 2034 FIFA World Cup take place?
No official dates have been released regarding the 2034 World Cup in Saudi Arabia but reports have suggested that the competition will be held in the winter months.
Much like the Qatar World Cup in 2022 that was staged in November and December, the high temperatures and humidity in Saudi Arabia mean a winter tournament is likely.
While Saudi Arabia have refused to rule out the possibility of a summer World Cup, a mid-season tournament seems far more likely at present.
