The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia officially launched its bid to host the 2034 World Cup on Friday, following FIFA’s announcement four months earlier that the kingdom was the sole candidate.
This bid initiative comes after Qatar hosted the first World Cup in the Middle East two years prior. With the slogan “Growing. Together,” the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) unveiled its bid logo, website, and a brief promotional film highlighting “the passion, spirit, and diversity of football in Saudi Arabia.”
Hammad Albalawi, head of the SAFF bid unit, expressed, “This campaign is fueled by the aspirations and dreams of 32 million people in Saudi Arabia. Our duty is to present the most compelling bid to FIFA, uphold our nation’s pride, and honor the trust of over 130 Member Associations worldwide who have backed our bid.”
Under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Vision 2030 reform program, which aims to position Saudi Arabia as a tourism, business, and sports destination, the kingdom has made significant investments in sports. Recently, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) announced a strategic partnership with the ATP, the men’s tennis governing body.
Since 2021, PIF has ventured into various major sports, including establishing the LIV golf tour as a competitor to the PGA and acquiring English Premier League club Newcastle United. Additionally, it owns four clubs in the Saudi Pro League and has attracted global talents such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar with lucrative contracts.
However, these investments have prompted allegations that the kingdom is using sports as a means to deflect international criticism of its human rights record.
Saudi Arabia declared its bid for the 2034 World Cup on October 4, immediately after the bidding process was initiated. Due to continental rotation, FIFA invited member countries of the Asian and Oceanian confederations to apply, effectively excluding traditional footballing powerhouses.
Initially, Indonesia contemplated a joint bid with Australia or other nations like New Zealand, Malaysia, and Singapore. However, on October 19, it opted to support Saudi Arabia’s bid instead.
