How long until 2034 FIFA World Cup?

When Does the 2034 World Cup Start?

FIFA confirmed Saudi Arabia as host in December 2024 at the same Extraordinary Congress that awarded 2030, but exact dates have still not been officially announced. Multiple reports since late 2025 indicate organizers are now planning to hold the tournament in January 2035 — while still branding it the "2034 World Cup" — rather than the traditional November–December window, because that period overlaps with Ramadan in 2034.

Why a January Start Is on the Table

During Ramadan, observant Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset, which would complicate play for Muslim athletes and staff if matches fell in daylight hours during that month. Saudi summers are also far too hot to play in, which already ruled out the tournament's traditional June–July slot. Moving into winter would echo Qatar 2022, the first World Cup ever shifted out of its usual mid-year window, that time to avoid extreme summer heat.

A Single-Nation Tournament, After Two Multi-Country Editions

Unlike the multi-country 2026 (USA/Canada/Mexico) and 2030 (Morocco/Portugal/Spain) editions, 2034 will be hosted entirely within Saudi Arabia, across five cities: Riyadh, Jeddah, Al Khobar, Abha, and NEOM. Saudi Arabia was the only bidder after Australia withdrew from the race, and the hosting decision was made by acclamation rather than a competitive vote.

The tournament's official bid book, confirmed on July 31, 2024, lists 15 stadiums across those five cities, 11 of them newly built, including a planned 92,000-seat King Salman International Stadium in Riyadh expected to host the opening match and the final.

What Comes After

FIFA's confederation rotation rules — which prevent a continent from hosting back-to-back editions — mean the 2038 tournament is expected to be open only to bidders from CONCACAF or Oceania, though no formal bidding process has opened for it yet. A possible January 2035 date would also place the tournament close to the 2034 Asian Games, also scheduled for Riyadh, one of the scheduling pressures reportedly factoring into FIFA's final decision.