In the absence of any unforeseen circumstances, Saudi Arabia will host the 2034 FIFA World Cup. The challenge of moving the tournament away from its “traditional” dates would once more be on the table, making a World Cup in Saudi Arabia a big challenge for FIFA to overcome.
In June and July, Saudi Arabia is hotter than Qatar:
World soccer’s governing body is forced to again postpone the on-field action for several months since Saudi Arabia is even hotter in June and July than Qatar, which held the 2022 World Cup in November and December of last year. The 2022 edition disrupted domestic and international club campaigns in many areas of the world, and clubs, players, and coaches all criticized the changeover for piling up fixtures.
Too many games are causing worry among clubs, players, and coaches:
In the months after the competition, worries about the players’ ever-increasing demands to perform in more and more matches have only gotten worse. It was extremely unpopular to move the World Cup back into the middle of the majority of countries’ “normal” seasons in 2022, and FIFA will have a lot to explain if the situation is replicated only 12 years later. The European Club Association (ECA), despite its members are probably not too happy, has voiced criticism of the tournament’s expansion from 32 to 48 teams and has yet to comment on reports that Saudi Arabia will serve as hosts.
Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Mohammed bin Salman, made the announcement following last Wednesday’s FIFA Council meeting, which revealed that the 2030 edition would be spread among six nations on three separate continents.
Yasser Al Misehal, president of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF), has now revealed that the Gulf nation has submitted an official application to host the competition. “The nation is starting on a really exciting path, and this is the second stage. Our bid to host the FIFA World Cup in 2034 was officially submitted this week, continuing our effort to fulfill the aspirations of our people. The FIFA globe Cup 2034 is our invitation to the rest of the globe to take in Saudi Arabia’s progress, culture, and heritage. We are fully dedicated to putting forth the most aggressive proposal that will also contribute to the globalization of football.
Which other nations are keen to host the Fifa 2034 World Cup?
The SAFF claims that “more than 70 FIFA member associations around the world” have openly endorsed their proposal, which would give other prospective bidders little hope. China, Australia-New Zealand, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (headed by Thailand), and Kazakhstan-Uzbekistan have all previously expressed interest.
Days after submitting its formal application to host the 2034 World Cup, Saudi Arabia was said to have a “done deal” according to a report in the Daily Mail that cited persons familiar with the situation. The 2030 World Cup will be held in six different countries, FIFA revealed earlier this week, which has allowed Saudi Arabia to build a serious challenge for the hosting responsibilities.
“A Saudi World Cup in 2034 is not just probable; it is essentially set in stone. The event will bring FIFA fresh revenues of billions of dollars, the source informed the publication.
Following the bid, Saudi Arabia was promised the backing of the “entire Asian football family” by Asian Football Confederation (AFC) President Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa of Bahrain. Australia, which had been considering a proposal as well, has been let down because the entire continent of Africa is anticipated to support Saudi Arabia as well. Notably, Saudi Arabia’s crown prince Mohammed bin Salman, who has presented a strategic vision to transform the kingdom into a sporting destination, is friendly with FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
According to experts, Saudi Arabia’s climb on the world footballing map began with the wholesale emigration of football players from Europe to the kingdom during this summer’s transfer window.
What was announced by FIFA?
The 2030 World Cup will be held in the continents of South America, Africa, and Europe, FIFA said on Thursday (October 5). The main tournament will be jointly hosted by Morocco, Portugal, and Spain, although matches will also be held in Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay. All six nations will consequently be automatically qualified for the World Cup.
“In 2030, the FIFA World Cup will unite three continents and six countries, inviting the entire world to join in the celebration of the beautiful game, the Centenary and the FIFA World Cup itself,” a statement from FIFA read. In order to commemorate the first World Cup, which was hosted in Uruguay 100 years ago, FIFA announced that the World Cup matches will be played throughout South America. According to FIFA, each of the three South American countries will host one game, with the first of the three games taking place at the legendary Estádio Centenário in Montevideo, the capital city of Uruguay. While this is going on, countries have until October 31 to express their interest in submitting a formal bid proposal for the year 2034. The bidding process started earlier this month.
Fifa’s loosened stadium regulation makes Saudi Arabia eligible to host the 2034 World Cup:
Fifa has loosened the stadium bidding standards for the 2034 men’s World Cup in order to allow nations with fewer built football stadiums to host the competition. The choice runs counter to efforts in other sports to develop more sustainable competitions and reduce the development of “white elephants.”
There is no need for conspiracies because the World Cup in 2030 and 2034 is a hidden conspiracy.
According to Fifa, member countries “must propose a minimum of 14 suitable stadiums, of which at least seven must be existing stadiums” in their bids for the 2030 and 2034 competitions.
However, that criterion had been loosened in Fifa’s summary of hosting requirements for 2034, which was distributed on Thursday. According to the materials, “of the 14 suitable stadiums proposed, any bid must propose a minimum of four existing stadiums.”Fifa’s rotational bidding method awarded the 2034 event to bidders from Asia and Oceania. Minutes after the bids were opened, Saudi Arabia declared that it will be the tournament’s host country.
