Saudi Arabia’s 2034 World Cup may be staged partly or entirely in 2035 because the country’s summer heat makes the usual June–July window impractical. The issue matters because moving the tournament would disrupt football’s established calendar and could create conflicts with domestic leagues, international competitions and other major events.

Saudi Arabia was formally selected as host, but FIFA has not yet confirmed tournament dates. A winter schedule, similar to Qatar 2022, would avoid temperatures that regularly exceed 40°C, yet early 2034 could clash with the Winter Olympics, Ramadan and Saudi Arabia’s planned Asian Games; a shift into 2035 is therefore being considered.