Saudi Arabia’s Chances To Host 2034 FIFA World Cup Grow After Australia Drops Out

Saudi Arabias Chances to host 2034 FIFA World Cup

Saudi Arabia is now nearly guaranteed to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup, as the Australian football federation withdrew from the race on Tuesday. FIFA had invited bids from Asia and Oceania by October 31, but with Australia's withdrawal, Saudi Arabia remains the only candidate in contention.

Football Australia (FA) has decided not to bid for the 2034 FIFA World Cup after careful consideration, opting instead to focus on bidding for the 2026 Women’s Asian Cup and the 2029 Club World Cup. Saudi Arabia, the remaining candidate, is set to host the tournament pending FIFA ratification, marking a significant milestone in the country's global sports aspirations. The decision aligns with FIFA's streamlined process, restricting bids to Asian and Oceanian member federations after awarding the 2030 World Cup to Spain, Portugal, and Morocco. Saudi Arabia's investments in top football talent and acquisitions, including English Premier League club Newcastle United in 2021, underscore their commitment to becoming a major player in international sports.

Shortly after FIFA's announcement on October 4, the Saudi Arabian Football Federation expressed interest in hosting the World Cup. The Asian Football Confederation strongly endorsed the Saudi bid, showing enthusiastic support for bringing the tournament back to the Middle East.

Saudi Arabia, set to host the 2027 AFC Asian Cup, has commenced stadium construction and renovation, which could also be utilized for the World Cup.

Saudi Arabia's Sports Minister, Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal, expressed the nation's aspiration, stating, "Hosting a FIFA World Cup in 2034 would help us achieve our dream of becoming a leading nation in world sport and mark a significant milestone in the country’s transformation."

He emphasized Saudi Arabia's eagerness to be a welcoming hub for sports, saying, "Hosting a FIFA World Cup is a natural progression in our football journey."

While the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be jointly hosted by the USA, Canada, and Mexico, FIFA awarded the 2030 tournament to Morocco, Portugal, and Spain, including World Cup centenary games in Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay.