April 22 – FIFA World Cup 2034 hosts Saudi Arabia have stated they would welcome an expanded 64-team tournament.
With CONMEBOL President Alejandro Dominguez advocating for expansion following Uruguayan Ignacio Alonso’s proposal last month, Saudi officials are expressing readiness.
“I mean we’re ready, and we will be ready,” Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman Al Saud told reporters ahead of Sunday’s Formula One race in Jeddah. “If that’s a decision that FIFA takes and thinks that’s good for everyone, then we’re more than happy to deliver on it.”
The expansion proposal has faced resistance from multiple confederations. UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin called it a “bad idea,” while CONCACAF’s Victor Montagliani commented on the 2030 expansion: “I don’t believe expanding the men’s World Cup to 64 teams is the right move for the tournament itself and the broader football ecosystem.”
Meanwhile, Asian Football Confederation (AFC) President Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa told Agence France-Presse that a tournament of this size would cause “chaos.”
The upcoming 2026 World Cup will already increase from 64 to 104 matches, and a further expansion to 64 teams would result in 128 matches. This raises questions about how such a schedule could be managed during a single month in one of the world’s hottest countries.
Prince Abdulaziz noted that no decision has been reached regarding the calendar, but discussions with FIFA are “ongoing.” “It is its decision to allocate the right timing,” he added.
“We are preparing everything to host it at the right time to ensure the most important thing for us – the fan experience – and to have everyone enjoy coming at the right time, with the right weather and so on.
“So yes, it’s going to be a challenge hosting two major events (the World Cup and the 2034 Asian Games) in the same year. But I think both parties, whether FIFA or the OCA (for the Asian Games), are open to discussing what’s best for the fans and everyone involved.”
Contact the writer of this story, Nick Webster, at moc.l1745330866labto1745330866ofdlr1745330866owedi1745330866sni@r1745330866etsbe1745330866w.kci1745330866n1745330866