Proposal to Move Saudi World Cup to Early 2035

FIFA is considering postponing the 2034 World Cup scheduled in Saudi Arabia to January and February 2035, in a move that could significantly alter the tournament’s calendar, according to reports by "The Athletic". The proposal aims to avoid extreme summer temperatures in Saudi Arabia, as well as prevent scheduling conflicts with the holy month of Ramadan, which is expected to coincide with November and December 2034. FIFA previously shifted the 2022 World Cup in Qatar to November and December instead of its traditional June and July window to bypass high summer heat. However, the Saudi edition poses a new dilemma for the governing body, as holding it in late 2034 would clash with Ramadan. This circumstance has prompted international football officials to evaluate alternative dates, notably staging the tournament in early 2035. Organizing the competition during Ramadan would create major logistical obstacles, given the arrival of thousands of visiting fans for continuous daily matches, alongside fasting commitments observed by numerous players and technical staff members. Scheduling challenges are further amplified by the tournament's operational requirement of at least five weeks, particularly if FIFA decides to expand team participation from 48 to 64 nations. Saudi Arabia was officially confirmed by FIFA in December 2024 as the host nation for 2034, becoming the second Middle Eastern country to stage the event after Qatar. If approved, the gap between the 2030 and 2035 tournaments would extend to five years instead of the standard four-year cycle. Date adjustments are not unprecedented in football, as seen when Euro 2020 was delayed to 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic.