World football’s showpiece event could break with its traditional four‐year cycle for the first time, with Fifa examining a plan to delay the 2034 World Cup in Saudi Arabia to early 2035 because of a clash with Ramadan and other major global events.
The tournament had been widely expected to follow the Qatar 2022 model and be staged in November and December 2034 to avoid Saudi Arabia’s extreme summer heat. But in 2034 the holy month of Ramadan is forecast to fall between 12 November and 12 December – precisely the window earmarked for the competition.
Reports in the UK, including by the Mirror, say staging the World Cup during Ramadan is seen within Fifa as posing major logistical and organisational hurdles for hosts, teams and fans.
Ramadan timing at heart of scheduling dilemma
Holding the tournament while Muslims around the world – including many players, coaches and the Saudi public – observe fasting during daylight hours would significantly affect training, match scheduling and day‐to‐day operations.
The Mirror reported that organisers are concerned about the impact on supporters travelling to the kingdom, as well as on players and technical staff who would be fasting. The month of Ramadan also brings shifts in working hours and daily routines in Saudi Arabia, which would add another layer of complexity to running a month‐long global tournament.
Ramadan’s timing effectively rules out repeating the precise Qatar 2022 calendar, forcing Fifa to look again at its options.
Winter Olympics and summer heat narrow options
The start of 2034 is also problematic. A World Cup in January and February that year would run into the Winter Olympics, scheduled to be held in Salt Lake City in the United States, creating a clash between two of the world’s biggest sporting events.
A return to the traditional June–July slot appears even less feasible. Summer temperatures in large parts of Saudi Arabia routinely range between 40C and 45C in July, raising serious concerns over player safety, fan welfare and the practicality of staging multiple matches in open‐air stadiums.
These constraints have left Fifa with a shrinking set of viable dates for the first World Cup to be hosted by Saudi Arabia.
Expansion to 64 teams ‘would add to pressure’
The scheduling puzzle could become even more complicated if Fifa proceeds with further expansion of the tournament.
The Mirror said the challenge would be “greater” should Fifa decide to increase the World Cup to 64 participating national teams, up from the already‐expanded 48‐team format being introduced in 2026. More teams would mean more matches and a longer competition window, making it harder to find an available slot that does not collide with other major events or religious observances.
January–February 2035 emerges as leading option
Against this backdrop, moving the World Cup into the following year is emerging as the most realistic solution under discussion.
A tournament held in January and February 2035 is viewed as a compromise that would avoid Ramadan, sidestep the Winter Olympics, and steer clear of both Saudi Arabia’s intense summer heat and end‐of‐year holiday celebrations.
Crucially for the hosts, such a schedule would also allow the competition to conclude before the annual Hajj pilgrimage, which is expected to begin in mid‐February 2035.
If adopted, the shift would mean the World Cup stepping outside its traditional four‐year rhythm – even if only by a matter of weeks – for the first time, drawing parallels with the Covid‐19 pandemic’s postponement of Euro 2020 to 2021.
Infantino calls for ‘open minds’ on calendar shake‐up
Fifa president Gianni Infantino has signalled that the world governing body is prepared to be flexible as it works through the congested international calendar.
He stressed that discussions are ongoing not just about one tournament but about the broader global schedule.
“We discuss this constantly, and it’s not about just one World Cup, but a comprehensive vision for the football calendar,” Infantino said.
He also reiterated his long‐held view on the ideal period for the game.
“افضل شهر لممارسة كرة القدم هو يونيو، لكنه لا يستغل كثيرا في اوروبا. ربما توجد طرق لتحسين جدول المباريات، وما زلنا نناقش جميع الاحتمالات، ويجب ان نبقي اذهاننا منفتحة حتى نتوصل الى القرار المناسب”.
No final decision has yet been announced, but any move to 2035 would mark a significant break with precedent and could have knock‐on effects for continental tournaments, domestic leagues and player workload across the football world.
