Saudi Arabia emerged as the solitary contender to host the prestigious 2034 FIFA World Cup, as announced by football’s global governing body.
FIFA had extended invitations for bids to host the tournament in the Asia and Oceania region, and the deadline for submissions was set for October 31. On October 4, Saudi Arabia wasted no time in revealing its intention to bid for the event.
In a surprising turn of events, Australia decided not to pursue a bid, making Saudi Arabia the sole candidate.
FIFA emphasized its commitment to a comprehensive bidding and evaluation process for both the 2030 and 2034 editions of the FIFA World Cup. The selection of host countries for these tournaments is anticipated to be determined by FIFA Congresses, which are scheduled to occur by the fourth quarter of 2024.
The bidding process is expected to be rigorous, ensuring that the host nation meets all the requisite standards.
Yasser Al Misehal, the President of the Saudi Arabian Football Association (SAFA), expressed their unwavering dedication to meeting all of FIFA’s stipulations for hosting the World Cup.
In a statement on the social media platform X, he shared the ambitions of the Saudi football community to witness the World Cup on home soil. Al Misehal underlined the importance of the World Cup as a catalyst for inspiring future generations and fostering the development of the sport on a global scale.
Saudi Arabia set but what about others?
In a parallel development, FIFA also confirmed that interest in hosting the 2030 World Cup had been expressed by Morocco, Portugal, and Spain.
Additionally, Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay expressed intentions to host celebratory games in conjunction with the event. It was previously announced on October 4 that a combined bid from Morocco, Spain, and Portugal would be awarded the 2030 World Cup, pending a successful bidding process.
The excitement surrounding the upcoming FIFA World Cup events continues to build, with Saudi Arabia and the consortium of Morocco, Spain, and Portugal vying for the honor of hosting these prestigious tournaments.
The global football community eagerly anticipates the decisions of the FIFA Congresses that will determine the future hosts of these iconic events.
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