Saudi Arabia has officially expressed its desire to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup, marking the beginning of what appears to be a bid designed to favor the kingdom. The Saudi Arabian soccer federation has submitted a letter of intent and a signed declaration to FIFA to initiate the bidding process, which is limited to members of the Asian and Oceania soccer governing bodies.
This move comes after FIFA decided to fast-track the bidding process for the 2034 World Cup, allowing only one candidate for the 2030 tournament, which will be a six-nation, three-continent co-hosting effort in Europe, Africa, and South America.
The 2030 co-hosting project involves Spain, Portugal, Morocco, Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay and is set to follow the 2026 World Cup hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada. This timeline enables the 2034 edition to return to Asia, 12 years after Qatar hosted the 2022 World Cup.
FIFA has imposed tight deadlines for the bidding process, requiring formal expressions of interest by October 31 and signed bidding agreements by November 30, with the support of national governments.
Australian soccer officials had initially expressed interest in hosting the 2034 tournament, especially after successfully co-hosting the 2023 Women’s World Cup with New Zealand. However, they now face the challenge of producing a bidding agreement within just eight weeks and may struggle to meet FIFA’s stadium criteria.
Saudi Arabia, on the other hand, appears to meet FIFA’s requirements with its preparations to host the 2027 Asian Cup and the availability of suitable stadiums. The Saudi Arabian soccer federation has also claimed support from “over 70” FIFA member federations.
The Saudi bid aims to promote the growth of football worldwide and create new opportunities for the sport. The kingdom has been actively building relationships with national and continental soccer bodies globally over the past two years.
The final decision on the hosts for the 2030 and 2034 World Cups will be made by FIFA members in late 2024. The FIFA Council, chaired by President Gianni Infantino, has played a significant role in shaping the bidding process, and Infantino has established close ties with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Hosting a World Cup in Saudi Arabia, as was the case in Qatar in 2022, would likely result in the tournament being held in November-December, coinciding with the European football season. This would require negotiations with influential European clubs and domestic leagues.
The FIFA Council responsible for agreeing to the 2034 World Cup bidding process included nine representatives from UEFA, the European soccer body that is set to host the 2030 tournament. The decision to delay the approval of bidding rules for 2030 came after the speculated Saudi-led co-hosting plan, which also involved Egypt, was reportedly dropped following discussions with the Greek government.
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