2034 World Cup May Be Delayed to 2035. Reasons Revealed

The 2034 FIFA World Cup—expected to be hosted in Saudi Arabia—may be postponed to 2035 amid scheduling conflicts with the holy month of Ramadan, which in 2034 is projected to fall during November and December.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has confirmed that discussions are underway to explore alternative windows for the tournament, taking into account climate, religious observances, and the global football calendar.

Infantino noted that:

“We are already looking into the details … maybe we should think about the best months for football … There might be ways to optimise the calendar.”

The proposal marks a shift in thinking: holding a winter World Cup in 2034, or even rerouting it to 2035, could help avoid extreme summer heat in Saudi Arabia and the overlap with Ramadan.

One of the main challenges is that Ramadan’s timing could interfere with match schedules, athlete performance, broadcast slots, and fan attendance.

Previously, the 2022 World Cup in Qatar was moved to November–December to avoid severe summer temperatures, setting a precedent for such calendar adjustments.