File image of Saudi Arabia followers supporting their group throughout the Asian Cup Round of 16 match. The nation launched its formal bid marketing campaign, March 1, to host the 2034 World Cup
| Photo Credit: AP
Saudi Arabia launched its marketing campaign to host the 2034 soccer World Cup on Friday, a bid that’s all however sure to succeed due to the absence of every other expressions of curiosity earlier than FIFA’s deadline late final yr.
With Morocco, Portugal and Spain set to share the internet hosting of the 2030 match, international governing physique FIFA restricted the 2034 contest to bidders from the Asian and Oceania confederations.
Saudi Arabia could be the second nation from the Gulf area to host the showpiece occasion, after neighbouring Qatar staged the 2022 finals.
The Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) mentioned its “Growing. Together.” World Cup marketing campaign would showcase the method the nation was strengthening bonds with different nations by way of sport.
The Saudis have invested closely in high-profile sports activities equivalent to soccer, Formula One, boxing and golf over the previous couple of years, main critics to accuse the oil-rich kingdom of “sportswashing” its human rights report.
The nation denies accusations of human rights abuses and says it protects its nationwide safety by way of its legal guidelines.
“Telling our football story to the world is of massive importance,” SAFF President Yasser Al Misehal mentioned in a press release.
“We’ve made unprecedented progress in both the men’s and women’s game, and our bid is an open invitation to the world to join us on this exciting journey.”
The subsequent step in the course of is the submission of the full bid paperwork to FIFA in July, with the appointment of hosts for each the 2030 and 2034 World Cups set to be rubber stamped at a FIFA Congress in direction of the finish of the yr.
The subsequent World Cup will happen in the United States, Mexico and Canada in 2026.
