Saudi Arabia has officially submitted its bid to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup. The bid, widely anticipated to be successful due to the absence of competing bids, was endorsed by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman after all necessary details and requirements were completed, according to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).
An official delegation, including Minister of Sport Prince Abdulaziz Bin Turki Bin Faisal and President of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation Yasser Al-Misehal, delivered the bid to FIFA in Paris. Prince Abdulaziz emphasised the kingdom’s commitment to hosting an exceptional edition of the World Cup, which will feature 48 teams in a single country for the first time. He highlighted Saudi Arabia’s aim to nurture a generation of athletes capable of competing at the highest global stage, showcasing the nation’s ongoing transformation across all sectors.
The official announcement of the winning bid is expected during the FIFA General Assembly meeting in December.
Meanwhile, FIFA President Gianni Infantino praised Saudi Arabia’s progress in football development. In a recent Instagram post, Infantino stated: “Saudi Arabia is a very important partner for FIFA and is playing an important role in football development. They staged an outstanding and successful FIFA Club World Cup 2023 and have taken great steps to grow women’s football, which I saw first-hand while attending a Saudi Women’s Premier League game between Al Ahli and Al Ittihad last December.”
Saudi Arabia’s bid reflects its broader ambitions to become a major player on the global sports stage, leveraging sports to drive national transformation and international prestige.