• The Saudi bid was acclaimed by the applause of more than 200 FIFA member federations

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has been officially confirmed by FIFA as host of the 2034 World Cup in men’s soccer.

The Saudi bid was acclaimed by the applause of more than 200 FIFA member federations. They took part remotely in an online meeting hosted in Zurich on Wednesday by the soccer body’s president Gianni Infantino.

The decision was combined with approving the only candidate to host the 2030 World Cup. Spain, Portugal and Morocco will co-host in a six-nation project, with Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay each getting one of the 104 games.

The South American connection will mark the centenary of Uruguay hosting the first World Cup in 1930.

AP