Saudi Arabia is refocusing its ambitions on a sole bid for the FIFA 2034 World Cup. The original idea of co-hosting the event in 2030 alongside Egypt and Greece has reportedly been abandoned, according to The Times, as the country’s authorities are already lobbying with senior figures in European football to secure backing for 2034. According to the report, Saudi Arabia would like to host the event in the regular summer season, despite the high heat, by holding matches in high-altitude venues. However, another winter World Cup similar to Qatar 2022 has not been ruled out. Qatar was the first Arab country to stage the World Cup in November-December 2022. Morocco is now seeking to host the 2030 edition jointly with Spain and Portugal.
Saudi Arabia’s increasing involvement in soccer has made high waves recently as the country uses its vast financial resources to secure the services of world stars such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar Junior, Karim Benzema, Roberto Firmino, and others. The influence of Saudi Arabia, which can invest billions in the transfer market, is undeniable and has led to speculation that the Saudi Arabian soccer league could be among the top 5 in the world within a few years. The country will host the 20th FIFA Club World Cup in December 2023. It is the sixth nation to stage the tournament after Brazil, Japan, United Arab Emirates, Morocco and Qatar.
