Saudi Arabia to Host 2034 FIFA World Cup

By Admin

Saudi Arabia is poised to host the men’s 2034 FIFA World Cup after Australia opted out of the bid, Football Australia announced shortly before FIFA’s declaration of interest deadline on Tuesday.

“We have reached the conclusion not to do so for the 2034 competition,” read a statement from Football Australia, effectively clearing the path for Saudi Arabia to become the host nation.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be held in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, while the 2030 tournament is set to be hosted by Morocco, Portugal, and Spain, with additional matches to be played in Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay.

FIFA had previously indicated that the 2034 World Cup would be awarded to a host in Asia or Oceania, making an Australian bid the most likely challenger to Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia’s bid has garnered support from the Asian Football Confederation, but it has also raised concerns and controversies. The nation has faced international criticism for human rights violations, including the execution of 81 men in a single day, women’s rights abuses, the criminalization of homosexuality, restrictions on free speech, and its involvement in the war in Yemen. The 2018 murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, a vocal critic of the Saudi government, further damaged the nation’s international reputation.

Human rights advocates have accused Saudi Arabia of using sports events to divert attention from its long-standing reputation issues, a practice often referred to as ‘sportswashing.’ Similar criticisms were raised when Qatar hosted the 2022 World Cup, highlighting concerns over the country’s stance on same-sex relationships, its human rights record, and the treatment of migrant workers.

Like the 2022 World Cup, the 2034 edition is likely to be scheduled for the winter months due to the extreme heat in Saudi Arabia during the summer.

Saudi Arabia has actively sought to establish itself as a global sports destination in recent years, hosting major sporting events in football, Formula 1, golf, and boxing. Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki bin Faisal, Saudi Arabia’s sports minister, expressed enthusiasm for the World Cup bid, describing it as “an important and natural step in our journey as a country passionate about football.”

In a notable statement, Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman acknowledged the concept of ‘sportswashing,’ saying, “If sportswashing is going to increase my GDP by 1%, then we’ll continue doing sportswashing.”