Saudi Arabia Sole Bidder to Host 2034 World Cup, FIFA says

Confirming the completion of the bidding process, FIFA, soccer’s global governing body, announced on Tuesday that Saudi Arabia submitted the only bid to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup before the deadline closure.

Following FIFA’s invitation for bids from Asia and Oceania, Saudi Arabia swiftly declared its bid shortly after the October 4th announcement.

Australia, however, revealed that it would not be competing to host the tournament, leaving Saudi Arabia as the lone contender in the race.

FIFA emphasized adherence to the Bidding Regulations approved by the FIFA Council, ensuring comprehensive evaluation processes for the 2030 and 2034 FIFA World Cup editions. The final host selections are anticipated to occur during FIFA Congresses, projected to take place by the fourth quarter of 2024.

Regarding the 2030 World Cup bids, FIFA confirmed that Morocco expressed interest in hosting, while Spain and Portugal united, and Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay proposed hosting celebratory games.

While FIFA awaits formal approval to designate Saudi Arabia as the host, the decision is expected to be a mere formality and likely to be made in late 2024.

The bidding timeline and process caught some member federations by surprise, acknowledged by James Johnson, head of the Australian Soccer Federation, who expressed acceptance of the situation and readiness to navigate the circumstances.

Saudi Arabia’s bid aligns with the sports investment program sanctioned by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The initiative has been viewed as an attempt to reshape the national image, often marred by concerns over women’s rights and the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino, known for close ties to Saudi soccer and personal connections with the crown prince, has been perceived as steering FIFA competitions towards the kingdom.

The deadline for bids and the swift process limited participating federations to less than four weeks to enter the race and just one additional month to finalize a bidding agreement, necessitating government support.

Australia initially explored a potential joint bid with Indonesia, potentially involving Malaysia and Singapore. However, when Indonesia decided to back Saudi Arabia, Australia shifted its focus to secure hosting the 2029 Club World Cup and the 2026 Women’s Asian Cup. Saudi Arabia also entered the bidding for the women’s Asian championship.

Despite the bidding process, concerns over human rights and labour conditions echo FIFA’s past experience with Qatar’s World Cup. The allegations of rights abuses of migrant workers involved in stadium construction continue to cast a shadow on the forthcoming events.

Critics question FIFA’s commitment to human rights in light of Saudi Arabia’s bid, citing concerns over the country’s human rights record, labour practices, and lack of independent monitoring and press freedom. Minky Worden, director of global initiatives at Human Rights Watch, raised fears regarding worker safety and well-being within the stringent labour conditions in Saudi Arabia.

The road to the 2034 FIFA World Cup in Saudi Arabia is expected to face significant scrutiny amid ongoing human rights concerns, mirroring past controversies surrounding major sporting events.

Source: ESPN