FIFA World Cup 2034: Saudi Arabia launches bid to host the sport

File image of Saudi Arabia followers supporting their crew throughout the Asian Cup Spherical of 16 match. The nation launched its formal bid marketing campaign, March 1, to host the 2034 World Cup
| Picture Credit score: AP

Saudi Arabia launched its marketing campaign to host the 2034 soccer World Cup on Friday, a bid that’s all however sure to succeed because of the absence of another expressions of curiosity earlier than FIFA’s deadline late final yr.

With Morocco, Portugal and Spain set to share the internet hosting of the 2030 match, world governing physique FIFA restricted the 2034 contest to bidders from the Asian and Oceania confederations.

Saudi Arabia can be the second nation from the Gulf area to host the showpiece occasion, after neighbouring Qatar staged the 2022 finals.

The Saudi Arabian Soccer Federation (SAFF) mentioned its “Rising. Collectively.” World Cup marketing campaign would showcase the best way the nation was strengthening bonds with different international locations by way of sport.

The Saudis have invested closely in high-profile sports activities comparable to soccer, System One, boxing and golf over the previous few years, main critics to accuse the oil-rich kingdom of “sportswashing” its human rights document.

The nation denies accusations of human rights abuses and says it protects its nationwide safety by way of its legal guidelines.

“Telling our soccer story to the world is of large significance,” SAFF President Yasser Al Misehal mentioned in a press release.

“We have made unprecedented progress in each the boys’s and girls’s recreation, and our bid is an open invitation to the world to hitch us on this thrilling journey.”

The subsequent step within the course of is the submission of the complete bid paperwork to FIFA in July, with the appointment of hosts for each the 2030 and 2034 World Cups set to be rubber stamped at a FIFA Congress in direction of the top of the yr.

The subsequent World Cup will happen in the USA, Mexico and Canada in 2026.