Saudi Arabia has confirmed its intention to bid to host the 2034 men’s World Cup.
The Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) said on Wednesday that it sought to deliver a “world-class tournament” in the 25th edition, and said its bid would draw inspiration from the country’s “deep-rooted passion for football”.
Saudi Arabia has already been confirmed as the host for the 2023 FIFA Club World Cup, which will take place in Jeddah in December, as well as the 2027 AFC Asian Cup.
The Gulf state strikingly lured Cristiano Ronaldo to Al Nassr in January and a significant footballing shake-up followed in June with confirmation that its Public Investment Fund (PIF) would take control of four teams — Al Ahli, Al Hilal, Al Ittihad and Al Nassr — in the Saudi Pro League (SPL).
A summer of spending saw a string of high-profile names, including Neymar and Karim Benzema, move to the SPL.
PIF previously led a consortium that went on to complete a takeover of Newcastle United in 2021, and Saudi Arabia has also invested in other sports, launching LIV golf and holding boxing events. The Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in Formula 1 took place for the first time in 2021 and a five-year deal has been agreed for Jeddah to host the Next Gen ATP Finals in tennis.
Saudi Arabia has faced international criticism for its human rights record and treatment of dissidents and human rights activists. LGBTQ+ rights are not recognised by the government.
But Mohammed bin Salman, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia and chairman of the PIF, said last month that he “didn’t care” about accusations of “sportswashing,”, telling FOX: “If sportswashing is going to increase my gross domestic product by 1 per cent, then we’ll continue doing sportswashing.”
Saudi minister of sport, Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal, said on Wednesday: “Hosting a FIFA World Cup in 2034 would help us achieve our dream of becoming a leading nation in world sport and would mark a significant milestone in the country’s transformation.
“As an emerging and welcoming home for all sports, we believe that hosting a FIFA World Cup is a natural next step in our football journey.”
The SAFF statement said that sport in the country was playing a “significant role in contributing to the country’s economic growth and enhancing the quality of life for all”.
FIFA invited 2034 bidding on Wednesday from the Asian Football Confederation and the Oceania Football Confederation.
World football’s governing body also confirmed that Spain, Portugal and Morocco were set to co-host the 2030 men’s World Cup — with three South American nations staging the opening matches to mark the tournament’s centenary.
The 2026 World Cup finals will take place across the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Saudi Arabia has qualified for the World Cup on six occasions since 1994 — most recently in 2022, when they secured a shock victory over eventual winners Argentina.
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