2034 World Cup: FIFA faces a battle over schedule – sources

FIFA faces a new battle against major European leagues, including the Premier League and LaLiga, over plans for a 2034 Winter World Cup in Saudi Arabia. Sources told ESPN that a “concrete agreement” would be required from leagues and players on the schedule to be affected by such a disruption.

Saudi Arabia will be confirmed by FIFA as hosts of the 2034 Men’s World Cup on Wednesday after emerging as the sole bidder for the tournament. A multi-nation tournament in 2030 hosted by Spain, Portugal, Morocco, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay is also approved by FIFA.

But with FIFA’s evaluation report on the Saudi bid highlighting climate concerns that would force the 2034 World Cup to be staged between October and April to avoid scorching summer temperatures in the Middle East, it is almost certain that the competition will take place in the middle of the season, similar to Qatar 2022, which took place in November and December 2022.

FIFPRO Europe – the players’ union – and European leagues representing national leagues filed a complaint with the European Commission in October over FIFA’s control over the international match calendar, citing a conflict of interest as competition organizer and governing body.

The legal complaint focuses in particular on the men’s international match calendar, including the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup and the 2026 Men’s World Cup, amid concerns about player fatigue and burnout.

However, sources have told ESPN that FIFA has not consulted with major leagues or players’ unions about staging the 2034 World Cup during the Northern Hemisphere winter, although agreement from both parties was needed to move the tournament from its traditional June to July date move.

The 2022 World Cup in Qatar resulted in major European leagues extending their club seasons and closing their leagues for at least a month to accommodate the shift to a winter World Cup.

Sources have told ESPN that a 48-team tournament in 2034 would result in 104 games and a five-week competition, potentially pausing the league season for up to seven weeks and requiring players to be released from their clubs for up to 49 days.

The European Court of Justice (ECJ) has ruled in legal proceedings against FIFA that the body would need the consent of leagues and players to make significant changes to the international match calendar.

FIFA sources have told ESPN that the existing international match calendar runs through 2030 and all stakeholders, including leagues and players, will be consulted before finalizing the 2034 calendar.