NFF criticises FIFA's 'flawed and inconsistent' World Cup bidding process

The Norwegian Football Federation (NFF) has announced its intention to vote against FIFA's decision to award the 2030 and 2034 World Cups to Morocco, Spain, Portugal, and Saudi Arabia, respectively.

The NFF expressed concerns about FIFA's process for awarding the hosting rights, stating that it does not align with the principles of a sound and predictable governance system.

The federation plans to formally criticise the bidding process in a letter to FIFA and request that its concerns be recorded in the Congress minutes.  

"Tomorrow's vote is not about who gets the 2030 and 2034 World Cups – that has already been decided," said NFF President Lise Klaveness via Reuters.

"The Congress is primarily about providing feedback on FIFA's allocation process. The board's assessment is that the process does not align with the principles of a sound and predictable governance system. By abstaining from acclamation, we are sending a deliberate signal that we cannot support FIFA's approach," he concluded.

By voting against the acclamation, Norway aims to send a clear message to FIFA about its dissatisfaction with the bidding process.

The federation believes that the process lacks transparency and fairness and that it does not adequately consider the interests of all member associations.  

As the global football governing body continues to face scrutiny, member associations need to voice their concerns and advocate for fair and transparent processes.