Saudi Arabia, the sole candidate vying to host the 2034 World Cup, has officially initiated its bid for the event.
In October, the Gulf Kingdom emerged as the only contender after Australia withdrew from the competition just hours before FIFA’s deadline for declarations of interest.
The hosts for the event will be confirmed later this year at a FIFA congress.
Yasser Al Misehal, president of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF), attributes the feasibility of the bid to the country’s “rapid transformation.”
Al Misehal added: “Telling our football story to the world is of massive importance.
“We’ve made unprecedented progress in both the men’s and women’s game and our bid is an open invitation to the world to join us on this exciting journey.”
Despite being the only bidder, Fifa regulations require Saudi Arabia to formally bid for the tournament.
The bid uses the slogan “Growing. Together”, which Saff says captures the bond between the “Kingdom, its people and world football”.
Since 2021, Saudi Arabia has allocated approximately £5 billion to sports, following the Crown Prince’s directive to make it a pivotal component of the economic diversification strategy.
The nation has successfully hosted numerous significant sporting competitions spanning football, Formula 1, golf, and boxing. Additionally, the Saudi Public Investment Fund has spearheaded ventures such as the LIV Golf series, acquired ownership of four clubs in the Saudi Pro League, and secured the purchase of Newcastle United.
Nonetheless, criticisms have arisen regarding Saudi Arabia’s utilization of sports investment and the hosting of prestigious events as a means to enhance its global image—a phenomenon termed ‘sportswashing’. The country has faced condemnation for various issues, including human rights violations, the 2018 assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, infringements on women’s rights, criminalization of homosexuality, curtailment of freedom of speech, and involvement in the Yemeni conflict.
The Saudi government contends that sports investment is instrumental in bolstering the economy, fostering tourism, and promoting physical activity among the populace. According to FIFA guidelines, countries seeking to host the event are required to pledge adherence to human rights principles.
In a December interview with BBC Sport, Saudi Arabia’s sports minister, Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal, dismissed accusations of sportswashing against the nation as “superficial.”
“Any country has room for improvement, no-one’s perfect. We acknowledge that and these events help us reform to a better future for everyone,” he said.
The 2034 tournament is anticipated to be held in winter to mitigate the country’s scorching summer temperatures, mirroring the approach taken for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Furthermore, it will mark the inaugural instance of a single country hosting the expanded 48-team tournament.
For the 2030 World Cup, Morocco, Portugal, and Spain are slated to collaborate as hosts, with the initial three matches scheduled to be held in Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay.
As for the 2026 World Cup, which will be the first to accommodate 48 teams, it is scheduled to take place across the United States, Mexico, and Canada.