Saudi Arabia has officially revealed its intention to bid for hosting the 2034 FIFA World Cup, a significant move as the nation seeks to establish itself as a global sports hub.
The Saudi Arabian football federation, in a statement, expressed its aspiration to host a “world-class tournament” that would take inspiration from the country’s ongoing social and economic transformation, as well as its profound passion for football.
This announcement comes just a year after Qatar, Saudi Arabia’s neighboring country, successfully hosted the first-ever World Cup in the Middle East. During that tournament, the Saudi national football team delivered a stunning victory during the group stage against the eventual champions, Argentina.
FIFA, the world football governing body, also released a statement inviting countries within the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) to bid for the 2034 World Cup, aligning with Saudi Arabia’s declaration.
Saudi Arabia’s foray into the global sports arena includes significant signings such as Cristiano Ronaldo for the Saudi Pro League, part of a strategy to attract top-tier talent through lucrative contracts.
Sport occupies a prominent place in Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Vision 2030 reform agenda, designed to transform Saudi Arabia into a vibrant tourism and business center while diversifying the economy away from fossil fuels.
In the near future, the kingdom is set to host several prominent sporting events, including the final LIV Golf League tournament of the regular season, a high-profile boxing match featuring Anthony Joshua, and the Next Gen ATP Finals tennis tournament. Additionally, the FIFA Club World Cup is scheduled for December.
Saudi Arabia was recently confirmed as the host for the 2027 Asian Cup, an event that will facilitate improvements to the country’s football infrastructure, including the construction of “world-class stadiums” through sustainable means, according to Yasser Al Misehal, the president of the Saudi football federation.
Previously, Saudi Arabia explored a joint bid for the World Cup with Egypt and Greece, but this idea has been set aside in favor of an independent Saudi bid. The new proposal promises fans “maximum three-hour flying times between cities and stadiums.”
However, Saudi Arabia’s willingness to spend heavily on sporting events has drawn criticism, with accusations of “sportswashing” to divert attention from human rights concerns. Crown Prince Mohammed acknowledged this criticism in a recent interview but expressed a commitment to leveraging sports for the benefit of the Saudi economy.
Hosting the World Cup would also raise awareness of human rights issues and concerns about the treatment of migrant workers and the criminalization of homosexuality in the country.
Despite these challenges, there is growing anticipation around the Gulf region’s increasing prominence in global sports. The potential for World Cup-related construction, environmental considerations, and the desire to showcase Saudi Arabia’s natural attractions are all factors that will play into the bid.
The Asian Football Confederation and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation have both voiced support for Saudi Arabia’s 2034 World Cup bid.
