The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) has officially announced that Saudi Arabia will host the 2034 FIFA World Cup which will mark the first time the expanded 48-team tournament is held in a single country.
Penpushing reports that the country’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) has been instrumental in Saudi Arabia’s growing influence on global sport, while it is recalled that over the years, the country has faced criticism for its human rights violations, restriction of free speech, and lack of women’s rights.
The decision has been met with mixed reactions, while some critics argue that it is an attempt to sportswash the country’s authoritarian regime and human rights record, many others feel it is deserving for the oil-rich kingdom to host the biggest football fiesta.
Penpushing further reports that Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) in a related development, equally announced that the 2030 World Cup will be co-hosted by Spain, Portugal, and Morocco.
The 2030 tournament will feature a unique format, with six countries across three continents hosting the event, while the opening three matches will take place in Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay.
Penpushing also reports that it is recalled that not many supported the hosting of the World Cup in Qatar, but it turned out to be a spectacular tournament in which Nigeria’s Super Eagles unfortunately missed out.
The country despite these concerns, has been actively investing in sports and hosting various international events, including Formula 1, boxing, golf, and tennis, and the Public Investment Fund (PIF) has set up LIV Golf and purchased Premier League side Newcastle, further solidifying the country’s presence in the sports world.
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