Lausanne, Switzerland, November 1, 2023: Saudi Arabia is all but certain to host the men’s 2034 FIFA World Cup after the Australian football federation declined to enter the bidding contest.
FIFA announced that the Kingdom had submitted the only “expression of interest” in hosting the tournament in 2034 – the same year Saudi capital Riyadh will host the Asian Games for the first time.
The decision will be ratified officially at the end of next year, providing all the technical criteria are met.
The next World Cup, in 2026, will be held in the United States, Mexico and Canada. The 2030 showpiece is set to be shared between Spain, Portugal and Morocco, with three matches in South America.
The Saudi bid comes one year after neighbouring Qatar hosted the first World Cup in the Middle East, where the Saudi team scored a stunning group stage victory over eventual winners Argentina.
As a result of the continental rotation, FIFA had only invited member countries of the Asian and Oceania confederations to apply.
Australia, which successfully hosted the Women’s World Cup this year, was also a contender but withdrew its interest on Monday following the Asian Football Confederation's decision to back the Saudi bid.
Acquiring the rights to host the World Cup is another step in Saudi's bid to become the centre of the sports world.
In football, the country is already preparing to host the next Club World Cup at the end of December and the 2027 Asian Cup.
The Kingdom will also host the 2029 Asian Winter Games in a futuristic complex under construction in Neom.
