FIFA World Cup 2034: Saudi Arabia Poised To Host WC As Australia Withdraws Bid At The Eleventh Hour

Saudi Arabia is on the cusp of becoming the host nation for the 2034 FIFA World Cup after Australia withdrew its bid mere hours before the FIFA deadline. The Middle East powerhouse joined the race shortly after FIFA's announcement that the 2034 edition would be confined to Asia or Oceania.

Saudi Arabia quickly garnered substantial support, notably securing the backing of AFC President Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa. Australia, initially the sole contender, ultimately decided to forego its bid. Japan also expressed support for Saudi Arabia's bid.

Japanese federation official Tsuneyasu Miyamoto earlier lauded Saudi Arabia for its rich football heritage, immense enthusiasm, and compelling vision for 2034.

"Japan had envisioned hosting the FIFA World Cup by 2050, but now is the moment for Asia to come together and present a unified bid for the 2034 World Cup," he said.

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Should Saudi Arabia emerge as the host, it will mark the second time in 12 years that the World Cup takes place in a Gulf nation, following Qatar's hosting of the event in 2022. The Saudi bid has been met with significant criticism due to the country's human rights violations and alleged tactics employed to mask these issues.

Australia on the other hand will focus on hosting the AFC Women's Asian Cup in 2026 and the FIFA Club World Cup in 2029.

Notably, Jeddah has already been selected to host the 2023 men's FIFA Club World Cup, and Saudi Arabia is also considering a bid for the 2035 FIFA Women's World Cup.

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The 2026 FIFA World Cup is set to be hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada, marking the first time the event will be hosted by three nations. Additionally, Spain, Portugal, and Morocco are the likely hosts of the centennial FIFA World Cup in 2030, pending successful bidding and ratification by FIFA .

Moreover, there are ongoing plans for special one-off matches in Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay as part of future FIFA World Cup events as 2030 will mark the 100 years of FIFA World Cup competition. The inaugural edition of the competition was held in Uruguay.