Saudi Arabia has emerged as the sole bidder to host the men’s 2034 FIFA World Cup following Australia’s decision not to bid for that edition of the tournament. FIFA had set Oct. 31, 2023, as the deadline for federations in Oceania and Asia to formally declare interest in hosting the event. Just hours before the deadline, Football Australia issued a statement to say it would not bid. FIFA later confirmed that it had only received one declaration of interest, and that was from the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF).
In the meantime, the 2026 FIFA World Cup will take place in the USA, Mexico and Canada. The 2030 edition, which marks the centenary of the FIFA World Cup, will likely be hosted by Morocco, Portugal and Spain, the sole candidates to host the event in a joint bid. Additional ”centenary celebration” games will be played in Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay.
The decisions for the venues raise justified questions as to whether FIFA considers sustainability, environmental protection and practicality in the selection process. Saudi Arabia currently invests vast amounts of money in football and other sports. The country is heavily criticized for human rights violations and appears to be trying to polish up its image with investments, such as the recent transfer of numerous Western soccer stars to the Saudi league.
The hosts for the 2030 and 2034 editions will be appointed by FIFA Congresses in 2024. All relevant documents, including the bid books and bid evaluation reports, will be published on FIFA’s website, the organization said in a statement.
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