Riyadh: FIFA is considering an unprecedented scenario: postponing the 2034 World Cup finals, scheduled to be held in Saudi Arabia, to early 2035. This comes after FIFA faced significant challenges in determining a suitable date for the tournament due to its overlap with global climatic, religious, and sporting factors.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, media reports indicate that FIFA's available options are becoming increasingly limited. Holding the tournament in June and July is ruled out due to the high temperatures in the Arab region, while holding it in November and December 2034 would coincide with the holy month of Ramadan, expected to run from November 12 to December 12 of that year, according to Politico.

Reports also suggest the possibility of ruling out a winter tournament, similar to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, which would also coincide with Ramadan, posing significant challenges related to crowd management, infrastructure, and sporting performance.

Holding the tournament in January and February 2034 faces another obstacle: its clash with the 2034 Winter Olympics in the United States, which could affect television broadcasting rights, viewership, and sponsorships.

The challenges don't end there. Moving the tournament to early spring would conflict with the Hajj pilgrimage, expected in March 2034, placing immense pressure on transportation networks, hotel capacity, and services within Saudi Arabia.

According to a Politico report, holding the World Cup in January and February 2035 is emerging as a potential solution. This would allow the tournament to conclude before the start of the 2035 Hajj season and offer more favorable weather conditions for players and fans, although it would mark the first time the tournament has deviated from its traditional four-year cycle.

This proposal aligns with earlier statements by FIFA President Gianni Infantino regarding the importance of football officials remaining open to all ideas when discussing improvements to the global football calendar.