The 2034 World Cup has been officially awarded to Saudi Arabia by FIFA president Gianni Infantino. The decision was made following a virtual congress with over 200 FIFA members in attendance. Portugal, Morocco, and Spain will host the 2030 tournament. The choice to select Saudi Arabia was praised as enhancing the opportunity for more countries to host the event. Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman expressed excitement at the prospect of hosting an exceptional World Cup. However, the decision has faced criticism from various human rights organizations due to Saudi Arabia’s controversial human rights record, including issues such as the imprisonment of women’s rights campaigners and the execution of individuals. The 2022 World Cup in Qatar was also marred with controversy due to the deaths of migrant workers involved in building the infrastructure. The upcoming World Cup in 2026 will be hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada, while the next Women’s World Cup is scheduled to take place in Brazil in 2027. The decision to award the World Cup to Saudi Arabia has raised concerns about potential human rights abuses and exploitation of workers connected to the event.
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