Saudi Arabia has formally informed FIFA of its wish to host the men’s World Cup in 2034 in a bidding contest that increasingly looks designed for the kingdom to win.
The Saudi Arabian soccer federation said it “submitted a letter of intent and signed declaration to FIFA to bid” in a vote that is open only to members of the Asian and Oceania soccer governing bodies.
FIFA fast-tracked starting the 2034 contest last week after its ruling body also agreed to accept only one candidate for the 2030 World Cup – now an unprecedented six-nation, three-continent co-hosting plan in Europe, Africa and South America that removed those continents from bidding to get back-to-back tournaments.
The Spain-Portugal-Morocco-Argentina-Paraguay-Uruguay project in 2030 will follow the inaugural 48-team, 104-game tournament in 2026 in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
That allows the 2034 edition to return to Asia 12 years after Qatar hosted the 2022 World Cup.
Last week, FIFA set tight deadlines of October 31 to formally express interest in hosting and November 30 to return a signed bidding agreement that requires the support of national governments.
Australian soccer officials have shown interest in the 2034 tournament after successfully co-hosting the 32-team women’s edition with New Zealand two months ago, but they now have only eight weeks to produce a bidding agreement.
Australia also may be short of the FIFA-demanded seven existing stadiums on a minimum slate of 14 soccer-suitable venues of at least 40,000-seating capacity.
Saudi Arabia, which is preparing to host the 2027 Asian Cup, meets that FIFA criteria.
A Saudi-hosted World Cup, as in Qatar last year, would probably be played in November-December during the heart of the European season, and that will require dealing with influential European clubs and domestic leagues.
However, the FIFA Council, which agreed to the 2034 World Cup bidding process, included nine delegates from European soccer body UEFA.
The council was scheduled in June to approve bidding rules for 2030 but delayed that decision days after the Greek government said a speculated Saudi-led co-hosting plan that also included Egypt had been dropped.
Meanwhile the hosts for the 2027 Women’s World Cup will not be decided until May 2024.
Kitwally
Roar Rookie
Yeah, says that in the smh article
Ferno
Roar Rookie
Unfortunately, Indonesia doesn’t seen to be the best partner in FIFA’s eyes: from cnn (30/03/2023): Soccer’s world governing body FIFA has stripped Indonesia of its right to host the Under-20 Men’s World Cup later this year after an Indonesian official objected to the participation of Israel. “FIFA has decided, due to the current circumstances, to remove Indonesia as the host of the FIFA U-20 World Cup 2023,” FIFA said in a statement, without providing further clarification. “A new host will be announced as soon as possible, with the dates of the tournament currently remaining unchanged.” The statement said sanctions against the Football Association of Indonesia (PSSI) were also possible.
Kitwally
Roar Rookie
But wait! There’s more! The plot thickens! https://www.smh.com.au/sport/indonesia-discussing-2034-world-cup-bid-with-australia-says-soccer-chief-20231010-p5eb9m.html
NickA
Roar Rookie
football funnies by David Squires
chris1
Roar Rookie
Sad but true. FIFA are so bloated and corrupt now they can't even be bothered trying to cover up their blatant corruption.
jupiter53
Roar Pro
It would be the biggest of surprises if there is any outcome other than WC 2034 in Saudi Arabia. Big money talks big at FIFA. FIFA will change the rules to get the outcome that big money wants. And as the Guardian has noted, it’s not a conspiracy, it’s in plain sight. https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/oct/06/no-need-for-conspiracies-world-cup-2030-2034-plot-in-plain-sight
Ed Flanders
Roar Rookie
I've no doubt his heart is in the right place. But that's not an excuse for his brain continually being in the wrong place. Nor is it an excuse for him accusing anyone of thinking Saudi Arabia getting the nod in 2034 (whether they agree with the decision or not) being part of a "harem". If he is going to continually make such childish pot shots, then he deserves the cracks at his intelligence tbh.
Garry
Roar Rookie
Wouldve up ticked this but the last line is both untrue and unnecessary..whilst BT often goes overboard his heart is in the right place.
Ed Flanders
Roar Rookie
Saudi Arabia are pretty keen on falconry. Maybe they can fill the stadiums with birds.
Ed Flanders
Roar Rookie
Your famed inability to comprehend facts and evidence is boundless. Journalists who are stating that the world cup in 2034 is to be held in Saudi Arabia are not part of their haram, but are stating the obvious. 1. The 2026 world cup is in Concacaf 2. The 2030 world cup is in UEFA and Africa. And now, thanks to some creative planning, also in Conmebol. Meaning... 3. 2034 will be in AFC. Surprise surprise. 4. FIFA have changed their bid requirements to exactly meet Saudi Arabia's present bid limitations. 5. FIFA have requested other Asian nations to express interest to bid with just 25 days notice. That immediately rules out a bid from representative liberal democracies such as Korea, Japan and Australia because, by virtue of those systems of government, it is impossible to bring even an expression of interest bid together. None of these governments would have budgeted for it, consulted with key stakeholders, or done any feasibility studies on a bid exploration. All these things happen in democracies. 6. FIFA knows this. Everyone knows this (except, you). But they can at least create the veneer of legitimacy around a "competitive bidding process" taking place before Saudi Arabia get it. Calling any journalist part of a Saudi Harem simply for calling out the obvious is about as laughable as anyone calling you an intelligent being.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
I think James Johnson and Nikou will hide this one out till the deadline passes. The governments are saying they will wait for the football federations to indicate interest which is ridiculous. Why haven't the football federations talked to the governments yet. The tight deadline seems to indicate their plan is for Australia not to bid, the big question is how much of this plan was hatched when Infantino was here in the country with them.
NoMates
Roar Rookie
We just have to be contempt with Australia never holding a world cup period.
chris1
Roar Rookie
Maybe they'll relax it even further for the Saudi's and allow pitches to be sand instead of grass? Turn it into a beach football WC. Anything for the Saudi's after all.
Garry
Roar Rookie
"Saudi Arabia, which is preparing to host the 2027 Asian Cup, meets that FIFA criteria.' no it DIDNT..now both Australia and Saudis meet the - cough cough - revised criteria.
Garry
Roar Rookie
I said that in the other WC topic -- FIFA will find a way around the requirements to suit the Saudis.. no surprise really :angry: :unhappy: :laughing: :crying:
Kitwally
Roar Rookie
Yes Saudi Arabia are hosting the 2027 Asian Cup and are building new stadia but no they did not meet FIFA’s stipulations for the 2026 and 2030 World Cups: “7 existing stadia with more than 40,000 capacity and 14 suitable venues in total”. According to Wikipedia they currently have 3 stadia with capacities of 65,000, and 80,000 and 44,500 “after expansion”, and they have 4 more being built with capacities of 40,000. However, breaking news in The Guardian today: “FIFA’s overview of hosting requirements for 2034, circulated on Thursday, that requirement had been relaxed. “Of the 14 suitable stadiums proposed, any bid must propose a minimum of four existing stadiums,” the documents states.” According to Wikipedia Saudi Arabia only have 3 existing stadia but The Guardian article says FIFA have gotten around this as well: “The updated document clarifies the definition of existing stadiums to mean “currently in existence or currently under construction”. Oh FIFA………. https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/oct/09/fifa-stadium-rule-relaxed-saudi-arabia-world-cup-2034
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
The so called sportswashing experts have made a runner to join the Saudi Harem. Are all these sportswashing experts seemingly a group of EPL fan boys who were really concerned their EPL team was now going to face another cashed up opponent. The gushing over rich billionaires continued in perplexing fashion over the Everest and their adoration of the involvement of a Chinese billionaire in it. It looks like the truth about James Johnson and Nikou has been revealed. The alarm bells should have been going and they should have been sacked. The journalists in Australia if you want a sell out or mouth for hire come to Australia.