Australia’s withdrawal from the bidding process for the 2034 FIFA World Cup has left Saudi Arabia in a strong position as the sole confirmed bidder. FIFA had invited bids from Asia and Oceania for the tournament, and initially, there was speculation that Australia might submit a bid. However, on the deadline day for submissions, Football Australia (FA) announced that it would not pursue the 2034 World Cup bid.
This development has significantly boosted Saudi Arabia’s chances of securing the hosting rights for the 2034 World Cup. Saudi Arabia wasted no time in expressing its interest, as the country had announced its bid shortly after FIFA’s call for bids on October 4.
The support of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), the governing body to which Australia belongs, is instrumental in the Saudi bid’s success. The president of AFC affirmed that “the entire Asian football family” would stand united in backing Saudi Arabia’s bid. This united front within the Asian football community strengthens Saudi Arabia’s bid and underscores the region’s commitment to hosting one of the most significant sporting events in the world.
With Australia’s decision to focus on other football-related events and Saudi Arabia’s confirmed bid, it now appears that the 2034 World Cup may be heading to the Middle East, pending the formal evaluation and selection process by FIFA.
