The German Football Association (DFB) has confirmed it will back Spain, Morocco and Portugal’s bid to host the 2030 World Cup and, controversially, Saudi Arabia’s bid in 2034.
FIFA combined the approval process for both tournaments into one with representatives from member confederations set to vote in a virtual conference on Wednesday.
Saudi Arabia’s bid has caused consternation due to the country’s record on human rights and the DFB’s approval is unlikely to satisfy German supporters.
In a statement, DFB president Bernd Neuendorf said: “We did not take the decision lightly and carefully considered the application for the 2034 World Cup.
“There was an exchange with many interest groups and experts, including human rights organizations and fans, based on which an informed decision was taken.
“We take seriously the criticism of the candidate country and will continue to engage in dialogue. Our aim is to work with FIFA to improve the situation in the coming years.”
