(Reuters) – Saudi Arabia has officially launched its bid to host the 2034 soccer World Cup. With no other countries expressing interest before FIFA’s deadline last year, the bid is expected to succeed without competition.
The 2030 tournament is set to be hosted by Morocco, Portugal, and Spain, prompting FIFA to limit the 2034 contest to bidders from the Asian and Oceania confederations. If successful, Saudi Arabia would become the second nation from the Gulf region to host the prestigious event, following Qatar in 2022.
The Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) unveiled its “Growing. Together.” World Cup campaign, emphasizing the country’s efforts to strengthen ties with other nations through sports. Despite criticism of “sportswashing” human rights issues, Saudi Arabia has heavily invested in sports like soccer, Formula One, boxing, and golf in recent years.
The kingdom denies accusations of human rights abuses, attributing its actions to national security. SAFF President Yasser Al Misehal highlighted the importance of sharing Saudi Arabia’s football progress with the world, inviting global participation in their journey.
The next stage involves submitting full bid documents to FIFA in July. The appointment of hosts for the 2030 and 2034 World Cups is expected to be confirmed at a FIFA Congress by the end of the year. The upcoming World Cup in 2026 will be hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
Reporting by Shifa Jahan in Bengaluru; Editing by Nick Mulvenney and William Mallard
