Saudi Arabia officially declared its aspiration to host the 2034 men's FIFA World Cup, marking the beginning of a competitive bidding process seemingly designed in favor of the kingdom.
The Saudi Arabian Football Federation confirmed its intention by submitting a formal letter and signing the declaration to FIFA for bidding. This opportunity is exclusively available to members of the Asian and Oceania football governing bodies.
FIFA rapidly initiated the 2034 bidding contest following a consensus to accept a single candidate for the 2030 World Cup—a groundbreaking co-hosting initiative spanning six nations and three continents. This arrangement eliminated Europe, Africa, and South America from consecutive bids.
The 2030 project, a collaboration between Spain, Portugal, Morocco, Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay, will follow the inaugural 48-team, 104-game tournament in 2026 hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada. This allows the 2034 edition to return to Asia, twelve years after Qatar's successful hosting of the 2022 World Cup.
Last week, FIFA set strict deadlines—October 31 for expressing formal interest in hosting and November 30 for returning a signed bidding agreement with the crucial support of national governments.
While Australia has shown interest in the 2034 tournament after a successful co-hosting of the women's edition, they face a tight timeline to produce a bidding agreement and meet FIFA's stringent venue criteria.
Saudi Arabia, preparing to host the 2027 Asian Cup, meets FIFA's venue requirements, boasting the necessary number of stadiums with a minimum seating capacity of 40,000.
Moreover, the Saudi Arabian federation cited endorsements from "over 70" of FIFA's 211 member federations. Their aim is to "unlock new football opportunities at all levels and commit to supporting the game's growth worldwide," a vision demonstrated by numerous working agreements signed with national and continental soccer bodies globally over the past two years.
The final decision on selecting the hosts for the 2034 World Cups rests with FIFA members, expected to take place late next year. The FIFA Council, chaired by President Gianni Infantino, has significantly influenced the process.
Infantino has fostered close ties with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and the Saudi football project has seen significant investments, including acquiring English club Newcastle and majority control of four leading Saudi clubs.
Hosting a World Cup in Saudi Arabia, akin to Qatar's event last year, would likely entail scheduling the tournament during November-December, coinciding with the European season. This necessitates effective negotiation with influential European clubs and domestic leagues.
The FIFA Council which agreed to the 2034 World Cup bidding process included nine delegates from Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), which now has the 2030 tournament.
The council was scheduled in June to approve bidding rules for 2030, but delayed that decision days after the Greek government said a speculated Saudi-led co-hosting plan that also included Egypt had been dropped.
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(With AP inputs)