Saudi Arabia, on Wednesday, revealed its intention to bid for the 2034 World Cup, marking another stride in its quest to establish itself as a prominent global sports player.
The bid aims to create a top-tier tournament, drawing inspiration from Saudi Arabia’s ongoing socioeconomic transformation and its deep-rooted passion for football, according to a statement from the Saudi Arabian football federation.
This announcement comes a year after neighboring Qatar successfully hosted the first-ever World Cup in the Middle East, during which the Saudi national team achieved a remarkable victory over eventual champions Argentina in the group stage.
Notably, Saudi Arabia’s bid came shortly after FIFA, the world football governing body, outlined its plans for the 2030 World Cup and invited countries in the Asian Football Confederation to consider hosting the 2034 edition.
In the wake of Qatar’s tournament, Saudi Arabia made headlines by signing Cristiano Ronaldo to play in the Saudi Pro League, initiating a trend of attracting top-tier athletes with lucrative salaries to the world’s leading crude oil exporter.
Sports form an integral part of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Vision 2030 reform agenda, aimed at transforming Saudi Arabia into a tourism and business hub while diversifying its economy away from fossil fuels.
In the coming weeks, Saudi Arabia is set to host various major sporting events, including the final LIV Golf League tournament, a boxing match featuring Anthony Joshua, and the Next Gen ATP Finals tennis tournament. Additionally, it will host the FIFA Club World Cup in December.
Earlier this year, Saudi Arabia was confirmed as the host of the 2027 Asian Cup, providing an opportunity to enhance its football infrastructure, including the construction of “world-class stadiums” in sustainable ways, as stated by Saudi Football Federation President Yasser Al Misehal.
Previously, Saudi Arabia explored a joint World Cup bid with Egypt and Greece, but this idea has been set aside.
The new Saudi-only bid promises fans a maximum three-hour flight between cities and stadiums, ensuring convenience.
Critics have accused Riyadh of “sportswashing,” using sports to divert attention from human rights concerns.
In a recent interview, Prince Mohammed defended this approach, emphasizing its potential economic benefits.
Hosting the World Cup would also intensify scrutiny of Prince Mohammed, who has faced criticism for consolidating power through a crackdown on dissent and human rights abuses.
However, he expressed remorse over certain cases.
World Cup-related construction may also raise environmental concerns, as witnessed when Saudi Arabia was awarded hosting rights for the 2029 Asian Winter Games.
The planned futuristic megacity known as NEOM drew attention for its ambitious projects.
Despite these challenges, Saudi Arabia aims to utilize the World Cup as a platform to showcase its natural attractions and dispel the perception of being solely a desert nation.
This includes highlighting mountains, islands, and cultural experiences, all supported by state-of-the-art facilities.
The Asian Football Confederation expressed its support for Saudi Arabia’s bid, with AFC President Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa affirming unity and cooperation with the global football community to ensure the bid’s success.
