When the FIFA World Cup arrives in Saudi Arabia in 2034, it will mark a historic first — the inaugural edition of the tournament's expanded 48-team format to be hosted by a single nation.

The journey to that milestone has been gradual. The 2026 FIFA World Cup introduced the enlarged format across three co-hosts: Canada, Mexico, and the United States. The 2030 edition will follow a similarly distributed model, with Spain, Portugal, and Morocco serving as the primary hosts. In a nod to the centenary of the tournament, Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay will each stage one match, marking 100 years since the very first World Cup.

Fifteen stadiums across five cities

Saudi Arabia's plan calls for 15 stadiums spread across five cities. However, the scale of construction still required raises serious questions about readiness. Of the 10 new venues that must be built before the tournament begins, work has commenced on only three.

The five existing stadiums also need substantial refurbishment to meet the standards Saudi Arabia committed to in its hosting bid. Among the planned new venues is the King Salman International Stadium in Riyadh, a 92,000-capacity arena expected to be completed by 2029. Construction has not yet properly begun, though authorities say work is due to start before the end of the year.

Winter scheduling still possible

No official start date has been confirmed for the 2034 tournament. Many observers expect it could be moved to the winter months — as the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar was — to sidestep the intense summer heat that characterises the Middle East region.

Human rights concerns cast a shadow

The 2034 World Cup has already attracted considerable controversy, despite the tournament being nearly a decade away. In May 2025, human rights organisations FairSquare and Human Rights Watch reported the deaths of multiple migrant workers at construction sites in Saudi Arabia. The reported causes of death included decapitation, electrocution, and fatal falls.

The two organisations further alleged that Saudi authorities were failing to shield workers from preventable fatalities, were not conducting proper investigations into workplace incidents, and were not guaranteeing compensation to the families of those who died.

With so much construction still to complete and ongoing scrutiny of labour conditions, Saudi Arabia faces significant pressure to demonstrate it can deliver on its promises well before 2034 arrives.