The 2034 FIFA World Cup will be the 25th edition of the tournament, and Saudi Arabia has been announced as the host country, as it was the only nation to submit a bid in time for FIFA's deadline of 31 October 2023.
FIFA restricted hosting eligibility to Asia and Oceania after announcing the 2030 World Cup would be held across Africa, Europe, and South America. This move paved the way for Saudi Arabia's successful bid, as they were the only country to submit a bid by the October 31, 2023 deadline.
FIFA also unexpectedly sped up the bidding timeline by at least three years, which hindered other potential bidders. According to reporting by The New York Times, FIFA president Gianni Infantino played a key role in the selection of Saudi Arabia as host.