The 2034 World Cup hosted by Saudi Arabia could end up taking place in 2035 after FIFA were left with a dilemma. FIFA confirmed 18 months ago that the Gulf nation would host the World Cup in eight years' time, and it had been widely expected that the tournament would take place in November and December - like when Qatar hosted in 2022 - due to extreme heat concerns.
But in 2034, there's a catch. Ramadan is anticipated to take place between November 12 and December 12, putting it squarely in the window which Qatar used. In Muslim countries, Ramadan drastically changes the way of day-to-day life, with social, civic and work schedules altered as a result. The millions of people observing Ramadan - held in the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar - fast during daylight hours and it's customary to avoid eating, drinking or smoking in public during these hours.
Ramadan Complicates Scheduling
This would no-doubt make it difficult for a World Cup to be staged during Ramadan, as thousands of fans flock to the host nation to watch matches scheduled throughout the day, while players and staff observing Ramadan would also be fasting. In 2022, Ramadan took place much earlier in the year and there were no such obstacles.
But ahead of Saudi Arabia hosting, FIFA face a headache. A move to January and February of 2034 would see the tournament clash with the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. In early March of 2034, millions are set to make the journey to Mecca in Saudi Arabia for Hajj. The summer months will likely be avoided due to extreme heat, with the average temperature for Saudi in July being between 40 and 45 degrees Celsius - a worthy case for hydration breaks.
Possible Solution: January-February 2035
Given that the World Cup needs at least a five-week stretch, especially if the tournament is expanded from 48 teams to a whopping 64, finding a suitable period isn't easy. But there's one window which might - albeit reluctantly - suit all parties: January and February 2035. This would allow both the Christmas and New Year period to be observed and ensure that the football concludes before Hajj, which in 2035 is slated to take place in mid-February. A 2035 date would, of course, mean that the tournament wouldn't take place in its usual four-year cycle, albeit by only a month or so.
Fans will recall how Euro 2020 was pushed back to 2021 due to the global pandemic. Having the World Cup in winter caused plenty of outrage within the European football community back in 2022, as top divisions such as the Premier League were put on hold for a month.
Infantino Open to Schedule Changes
But FIFA President Gianni Infantino believes that his organisation need to '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 optimise 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."
