Path Cleared for Saudi Arabia to Host 2034 World Cup

Facts

• Saudi Arabia is on the cusp of earning the right to host the 2034 World Cup after Australia’s decision not to enter the race before FIFA’s Tuesday deadline left the kingdom as the lone declared bidder.¹
• FIFA, which limited bids only to countries from Asia and Oceania, said it will make its final announcement of the 2034 host in the fourth quarter of 2024.²
• Football Australia decided to focus on bids for the 2026 Women’s Asian Cup and the 2029 World Cup rather than pursue a bid for the 2034 World Cup.³
• It's widely thought that Saudi Arabia’s support from the Asian Football Confederation would’ve made it unlikely for Australia to win enough FIFA votes.⁴
• Previously, Saudi Arabia was scheduled to bid for the 2030 World Cup in partnership with Greece and Egypt but decided to bid solo for 2034 instead.⁵

Sources: ¹Associated Press, ²The New York Times, ³Reuters, ⁴Forbes and ⁵Daily Mail.

Narratives

• Narrative A, as provided by CBS. Saudi Arabia’s record on human rights is appalling and the country shouldn't be allowed to “sportswash” this reputation by being allowed to host major sporting events. FIFA must get human rights commitments from the kingdom before it officially grants it the honor of hosting the World Cup.
• Narrative B, as provided by Al Jazeera. This is the next step in Saudi Arabia’s transformation into a welcoming home for all sports. The kingdom’s dream is to be a leading nation in world sport, and those who accuse it of “sportwashing” are missing the point. The kingdom is seeking to grow its GDP, and sports are a key driver in that pursuit.