FIFA

Gianni Infantino, president of Fifa: "Dear friends. The essence of football is its unpredictability and its strength is our unity.

Both together, make football what it is - the number one sport in the world.

Football is much more than that. Football is a social phenomenon.

A unique social phenomenon that is capable of bringing people from everywhere, all social classes, bringing people together in a peaceful, joyful and respectful way. This is unity and this is football."

Image source, Saudi 2034

In total, organisers say the Saudi World Cup would be played in 15 stadiums across five cities: Riyadh, Jeddah, Abha, Al-Khobar and Neom, an as-yet-unbuilt city in the north-west of the country.

The plans for the Neom stadium show it will be set 350 metres above sea level and will only be accessible via high-speed lifts and driverless vehicles.

It is part of the country's 'The Line' project and has been pitched as a car-free city, just 200m (656ft) wide and 170km (106 miles) long. The Line will be taller than the Empire State Building in New York and about as long as the distance between Bristol and London.

FIFA

Gianni Infantino, president of Fifa: "Today, football will unite the world like nothing else can. We bring people, nations and continents together to see who will be the host of the 2030 and 2034 men's World Cup. It promises to be an historic moment and I thank you all for being part of this history."

Fifa president Gianni Infantino is now talking. You can watch by clicking the icon at the top of the page.

Image source, Getty Images

Organisers of the Saudi Arabia bid to host the 2034 men's World Cup have promised "one of a kind" stadiums.

However, 11 stadiums in the proposal have not been built yet, while one is in a new city that also hasn't been built.

We will show you the artists' impressions of those stadia and try to describe what a World Cup in Saudi Arabia would look like.

Dan Roan
BBC sports editor

Norway's football federation has said it will abstain from the acclamation, arguing the bidding process "undermines Fifa's own reforms for good governance" and "challenges trust in Fifa". It added that Fifa's guidelines for due diligence had not been followed, "increasing the risk of human rights violations".

Most federations outside of western Europe will endorse the Saudi bid. Germany's DFB said it "took the criticism of the applicant country seriously…[but] our goal is to work together with Fifa to improve the situation in the coming years".

The FA is yet to declare what position it will take, although BBC Sport has been told some senior officials, while aware of human rights concerns, are wary of accusations of hypocrisy if it fails to support Saudi Arabia but then wants England to participate.

Most scrutiny has come from outside the sport. In March, the Guardian said it had found evidence of high numbers of unexplained deaths of Bangladeshi migrant workers in Saudi Arabia. The country defended its regulations and standards, but Fifa came under pressure to secure binding commitments for reforms,, external before awarding the World Cup.

Image source, Getty Images

Dan Roan
BBC sports editor

Many critics see this as the biggest act of sportswashing in Fifa's history with the World Cup being used to help improve the image of a country that has faced years of criticism over subjects such as:

• human rights violations
• the repression of women
• the criminalisation of homosexuality
• the restriction of free speech
• the continued use of the death penalty
• the 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi
• the imprisonment of activists for online dissent
• the country's involvement in the bloody conflict in Yemen

Read more of Dan Roan's piece on the BBC Sport website.

Dan Roan
BBC sports editor

Image source, Saudi 2034

"Extraordinary", according to the Saudi Football Federation. Its bid proposes 15 stadiums, (including three that are under construction, and eight where work is yet to start), across five host cities, including one (the futuristic development of Neom) that is yet to be built.

Fifa's evaluation report hails "a range of impressive stadiums which, when built or refurbished, could offer state-of-the-art infrastructure".

It is also almost certain to be held in winter. But there could be one major difference with neighbouring Qatar's tournament, which took place in November-December, 2022.

Noting that summer temperatures "can exceed 40C", Fifa has said there is an "elevated risk in terms of event timing" for Saudi 2034, and referenced having to navigate "climatic conditions" and "religious events", leading to speculation the event may be held from the start of January to avoid a clash with Ramadan.

The Premier League and other top European leagues would oppose a winter World Cup, according to the PA news agency.

Read more of Dan Roan's piece on the BBC Sport website.

Pat Nevin
Former Chelsea winger on BBC Radio 5 Live

On the potential of Saudi Arabia hosting the men's World Cup.

It is the coronation now, Australia are not going to get it, they were not given enough time.

The whole thing has become too big now, with the amount of teams in it. The money that you have to have to put on a competition like this is ridiculous. It's getting stupid.

The reason why it's getting really stupid is because it has been built to make money for Fifa.

Dan Roan
BBC sports editor

Image source, Getty Images

The Football Association is expected to support Saudi Arabia's bid to host the 2034 World Cup and a multi-nation hosting of the 2030 World Cup.

The FA has not officially declared its position but BBC Sport has learned the governing body for English football will back both bids at Wednesday afternoon's online Fifa Congress where the tournament hosts will be officially confirmed.

The FA is expected to issue a statement after the Congress explaining its stance.

Saudi Arabia is the sole bidder for the 2034 event, while the 2030 World Cup is set to be awarded to unopposed co-hosts Spain, Morocco and Portugal, with early matches also being played in Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay.

While Saudi Arabia's hosting appears to be a formality, the FA's support of the nation's bid will be controversial, given the kingdom's human rights record and discriminatory laws.

Rather than a traditional vote, it has been suggested the ratification process will be confirmed by acclamation - with federations in favour asked to show their support by applauding.

Delegates will have to vote at the same time on both bids, meaning they can either support or oppose both. There is no separate vote for the tournaments.

Read more on Dan Roan's story here

Fifa is set to confirm the hosts of the 2030 and 2034 men's World Cups this afternoon with a three-continent, six-nation bid led by Morocco, Spain and Portugal to be awarded the former and the latter going to Saudi Arabia.

The official announcement is expected to be made at around 14:20 GMT.

Stick with us for all the latest news and updates throughout the afternoon.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

In the lead up to tonight's match at Juventus, Pep Guardiola has said Manchester City will be his final managerial job in club football before he "maybe" coaches a national team.

Speaking to celebrity chef Dani Garcia on YouTube, Guardiola did not indicate when he intends to step down at City but said he would not return to club football - in the Premier League or overseas.

"I'm not going to manage another team," he said.

"I'm not talking about the long-term future, but what I'm not going to do is leave Manchester City, go to another country, and do the same thing as now.

"I wouldn't have the energy. The thought of starting somewhere else, all the process of training and so on. No, no, no. Maybe a national team, but that's different.

"I want to leave it and go and play golf, but I can't [if he takes a club job]. I think stopping would do me good."

Marc Albrighton
Former Aston Villa midfielder on the Football Daily podcast

Don't get me wrong they [Juventus] are a top side and they have got quality all over the pitch but I watched them against Aston Villa and if Villa would have shown the performance against Juventus that they did against RB Leipzig then I think they would have beaten them.

I don't feel like they offered too much threat and on another day Villa would beat them. They seemed quite vulnerable compared to a lot of Juventus sides that we have been used to seeing over the years.

Listen to the Football Daily podcast.

Manchester City

Manchester City do not have a great record against Juventus.

The two side have faced each other six times in European competition.

After losing their very first meeting in September 1976 (a 1-0 defeat in the UEFA Cup), Juventus are unbeaten in their last five matches against City (W3 D2).

However, Juve are not in great form...

According to the Opta predictions we published earlier, if Manchester City manage another five points, which would see them finish with 13 points, then that would guarantee them of a place in the play-offs, but it would not be enough to see them directly through to the last 16.

Pat Nevin
Former Chelsea winger on BBC Radio 5 Live

Pep Guardiola knows that if they lose tonight then they have to play Paris St-Germain away from home and that is not the easiest.

It then leaves you Club Brugge in the last game and they are doing well.

It’s not impossible to do, but they could really do with getting something out of it tonight.

Manchester City

To Manchester City next.

The 2023 Champions League winners have just eight points from their opening five fixtures in this season's competition.

They sit uncomfortably in 20th place, with away games to come at Juventus, tonight, and Paris St-Germain (22 Jan) before finishing off the new extended league phase at home to Club Brugge (29 Jan).

Arsenal

Image source, Getty Images

More from Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta on tonight's opponents Monaco.

The Spaniard says he has been "really impressed" by what he has seen from the Ligue 1 club, who suffered their first defeat in the competition last time out on matchday five.

Victory for Arteta's side would keep them on track to finish in the top eight and receive a bye in the Champions League play-off round.

"You see the run that they've been on in the Champions League. They're a real threat with a lot of qualities," Arteta said.

Meanwhile, Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard has outlined his ambitions to win silverware this season.

The Gunners last reached the Champions League final in 2006 and have never won the competition.

"We want to do something really special. We want to win everything. That's the mindset of everyone. We want to win trophies," he said.

"We want to win every time we play. We all share that mindset and we just want to win and make sure that the trophies come to the club."

Arsenal

Left-back Kieran Tierney, back in training after six months out with a hamstring injury, could make his first appearance in European competition for Arsenal since November 2022.

The Scotland international spent last season on loan at Spain's Real Sociedad, but manager Mikel Arteta is pleased with the determination he has shown since returning.

"He's ready and training really well and he's going to have an opportunity for sure the way the team is looking at the moment," the Spanish coach said.

"He's going to do that for that reason and because he's earned it. The way he's behaved, the way he's been with us and because he's willing to do it. When that happens you have to give opportunities to those kinds of players."

Image source, Getty Images