Saudi Arabia announced it would bid to host the 2034 World Cup just minutes after the world’s governing body, FIFA, invited countries from the Asia and Oceania regions to submit bids.
The Saudi FA stated in a statement that the bid for 2034 “intends to deliver a world-class tournament and will draw inspiration from Saudi Arabia’s ongoing social and economic transformation and the country’s deep-rooted passion for football.”
“Saudi Arabia’s inaugural FIFA World Cup bid is backed by the country’s growing experience of hosting world-class football events and its ongoing plans to welcome fans across the world to the 2023 FIFA Club World Cup and 2027 AFC Asian Cup.”
The Saudi announcement came shortly after FIFA named Morocco, Spain, and Portugal as hosts of the 2030 World Cup, with Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay hosting the opening matches to mark the tournament’s centenary.
“Saudi Arabia’s inaugural FIFA World Cup bid is backed by the country’s growing experience of hosting world-class football events and its ongoing plans to welcome fans across the world to the 2023 FIFA Club World Cup and 2027 AFC Asian Cup.”
The Saudi announcement came shortly after FIFA named Morocco, Spain, and Portugal as hosts of the 2030 World Cup, with Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay hosting the opening matches to mark the tournament’s centenary.
After FIFA said that the 2034 World Cup would be held in the Asia or Oceania region, Asian Football Confederation president Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa welcomed the decision.
“We strongly believe it paves the way for a more equitable opportunity for all confederations to bid for and host the prestigious FIFA World Cup—the pinnacle of world men’s football,” he said.
The United States, Canada, and Mexico will host the 2026 World Cup, which will have 48 teams.
A number of top footballers, such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, and Karim Benzema, have recently signed big-money deals with Saudi Pro League clubs.
