LAGOS, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA) – Saudi Arabia is poised to be named the host country for the 2034 World Cup after Australia decided not to bid for the tournament rights.
FIFA’s guidelines for the 2034 World Cup stated that bids would be accepted only from AFC and OFC member associations.
This led both Australia and Saudi Arabia to emerge as frontrunners for hosting rights.
However, just hours before the FIFA deadline, Football Australia officially announced its decision not to bid for the tournament.
As a result, Saudi Arabia stands as the sole bidder for this prestigious global event, and their formal announcement as hosts is expected.
READ ALSO: Saudi Arabia, Iran, Others To Join BRICS As Group Admits Six New Members
In a statement, the Australian FA explained their decision, saying, “We have explored the opportunity to bid to host the FIFA World Cup and – having taken all factors into consideration – we have reached the conclusion not to do so for the 2034 competition.
” Instead, we believe we are in a strong position to host the oldest women’s international competition in the world, the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026, and then welcome the greatest teams in world football for the 2029 FIFA Club World Cup.”
Previously, Saudi Arabia aspired to jointly host the 2030 FIFA World Cup with Egypt and Greece.
However, FIFA later announced that the centenary edition would be primarily hosted by Portugal, Spain, and Morocco, with matches in Uruguay, Paraguay, and Argentina.
This decision aimed to make the World Cup a truly global phenomenon, spanning three continents.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has set an ambitious goal through Vision 2030 to position Saudi Arabia as a leading destination for sports tourism and a thriving business hub.
Hosting the FIFA World Cup in 2034 is a significant part of this vision, symbolizing the country’s commitment to sports and international recognition.
Saudi Arabia is also preparing to host several other significant football events in the coming years, including the 2023 FIFA Club World Cup and the 2027 AFC Asian Cup.
