Recently, FIFA received the formal bid books from seven member federations who are vying to host the World Cups in 2030 and 2034. While the 2030 World Cup will be co-hosted by Spain, Portugal, Morocco, Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay, Saudi Arabia stands as the sole candidate for the 2034 tournament.
The bidding process for hosting a FIFA World Cup is a rigorous one. Detailed project plans encompassing stadiums, hotels, training facilities, transportation, and national security must be presented in hundreds of pages. FIFA is expected to assess the bid books and publish an evaluation report in the last quarter of the year. The human rights obligations of the host countries are also under scrutiny, with FIFA working alongside independent experts to evaluate the candidates.
This stringent evaluation process comes in the wake of FIFA’s human rights policy implementation. For the 2026 World Cup, jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, bids were assessed on their adherence to human rights standards. This marked a significant shift from the controversial decisions to award the 2018 and 2022 editions to Russia and Qatar, respectively.
The upcoming FIFA meeting on December 11 is crucial, as the hosts for the 2030 and 2034 World Cups will be finalized. The 2026 World Cup will be the first to feature 48 teams, further increasing the stakes for potential hosts. The selection process is not only about the infrastructure and logistics of hosting a major sporting event but also about upholding human rights values at the forefront.
The race to host FIFA World Cups 2030 and 2034 highlights the evolving standards set by FIFA for its host countries. The bidding nations are not only evaluated on their ability to organize a successful tournament but also on their commitment to upholding human rights. As the world eagerly awaits the announcement of the hosts, the transparency and thoroughness of the evaluation process set an important precedent for future sporting events.
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