Saudi Arabia has announced its bid to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup. The bid aims to deliver a world-class tournament inspired by Saudi Arabia’s ongoing social and economic transformation and its deep-rooted passion for football, according to a statement from the Saudi Arabian football federation.
This announcement comes a year after Qatar hosted the first World Cup in the Middle East. FIFA, the governing body for world football, also released a statement inviting countries in the Asian Football Confederation to bid for the 2034 World Cup.
Saudi Arabia has been actively involved in hosting major sporting events, including the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup and the 2027 Asian Cup.
That event will enable Saudi officials to improve on existing football infrastructure, with new “world-class stadiums” constructed “in the most sustainable ways”, Saudi Football Federation President, Yasser Al Misehal, said on Wednesday.
Saudi Arabia previously explored a tri-continental World Cup bid with Egypt and Greece, though that plan has been shelved.
The new Saudi-only bid means fans would face “maximum three-hour flying times between cities and stadiums”, Misehal said.
The Asian Football Confederation came out in support of the Saudi 2034 World Cup bid shortly after it was announced on Wednesday.
“I am delighted to note that the (Saudi football federation) have presented their intention to bid for the FIFA World Cup in 2034,” said AFC President Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa.
“The entire Asian football family will stand united in support of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s momentous initiative, and we are committed to working closely with the global football family to ensure its success.”