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The 2034 World Cup hosted by Saudi Arabia could ultimately be staged in 2035, leaving FIFA facing a significant dilemma. FIFA confirmed 18 months ago that the Gulf nation would host the tournament in eight years, with widespread expectation that it would be held in November and December — similar to Qatar's hosting arrangement in 2022 — due to concerns over extreme heat.
However, 2034 presents a complication. Ramadan is projected to fall between November 12 and December 12, placing it directly within the window Qatar utilized.
In Muslim nations, Ramadan fundamentally transforms daily life, with social, civic and work routines all affected. The millions observing Ramadan — held during the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar — fast throughout daylight hours, with eating, drinking and smoking in public customarily avoided during this period, as per The Mirror.
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This would undoubtedly create serious challenges for staging a World Cup during Ramadan, as thousands of fans descend on the host nation to attend matches scheduled throughout the day, while players and staff observing Ramadan would simultaneously be fasting. In 2022, Ramadan occurred considerably earlier in the year, meaning no such complications arose.
FIFA now faces a genuine headache ahead of Saudi Arabia's hosting duties. Shifting the tournament to January and February 2034 would see it directly conflict with the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.
In early March 2034, millions are expected to make the pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia for Hajj. The summer months will likely be avoided due to extreme heat, with the average temperature in Saudi Arabia during July reaching between 40 and 45 degrees Celsius (104-113 degrees Fahrenheit) — a compelling case for hydration breaks.
Given that the World Cup requires at least a five-week window, particularly if the tournament expands from 48 teams to a staggering 64, identifying a suitable period is no simple task. However, there is one window that might — albeit reluctantly — work for all involved: January and February 2035.
This would allow both the Christmas and New Year period to be observed and ensure that the soccer concludes before Hajj, which in 2035 is scheduled to take place in mid-February. A 2035 date would, naturally, mean the tournament would not follow its traditional four-year cycle, though only by a month or so.
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Fans will remember how Euro 2020 was postponed to 2021 due to the global pandemic. Hosting the World Cup in winter generated considerable outrage across the European soccer community back in 2022, as top divisions such as the Premier League were suspended for a month.
But FIFA President Gianni Infantino believes his organization must 'keep an open mind' when it comes to scheduling. "We are already into the nitty-gritty, we are discussing all the time," Infantino explained.
"It's not just about one World Cup, it's a general reflection. The best month to play football, which is June, is not used very much in Europe.
"Maybe there are ways we can optimize the calendar, but we are discussing it and we will see when we come to some conclusions. We just have to keep an open mind."
