Sepp Blatter, former president of FIFA, has came out in support of England hosting the World Cup in 2038 — ahead of Saudi Arabia, which is set to host the tournament in 2034. Blatter say England’s contribution to football as “huge” before that England should have hosted a World Cup since they last hosted it in 1966, which England eventually won.
In an interview with Reuters, Blatter condemned the sole awarding of the 2034 World Cup to Saudi Arabia, alleging the process had been cleverly organized to avoid opposition. Also under discussion had been the 2030 World Cup, which is to be hosted by Spain, Portugal and Morocco — with some games in South America. Climate activists have condemned the proposal, pointing to greater emissions from increased travel.
In an in depth interview, Blatter raised doubts about Saudi Arabia’s desert land and its recent human rights record as a host, drawing parallels with the 2022 FIFA World Cup which has taken place in Qatar. So, he urged England to bid again for hosting rights.
Also in the interview, Blatter voiced concern over the 2026 edition’s expansion of the World Cup to 48 teams, which he hopes will reduce the tournament’s quality and could hurt the sport in the long run. He cautioned that constant expansion could ultimately harm football.
