Saudi Arabia wins bid to host 2034 FIFA World Cup: What we know
Saudi Arabia has poured billions into developing sporting infrastructure and buying up top global football talent as part of its Vision 2030 diversification strategy.
DUBAI — Saudi Arabia won the right to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup on Wednesday following an unchallenged bidding process that also raised scrutiny on the Gulf country's human rights record.
Saudi Arabia is the second Arab and Gulf country, after Qatar, to host the FIFA World Cup. Riyadh put forward a solo bid, which it said was backed by 70 member associations. Australia, the sole other bidder, pulled out just before the filing deadline in October 2023.
Announcing the win, Prince Abdulaziz bin Faisal, the country's minister of sport and president of the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee, said Wednesday, "This is a historic moment for Saudi Arabia and a dream come true for all our 32 million people who simply love the game."
Prince Faisal said winning the bid to host the 25th FIFA World Cup was a "huge step forward" in realizing the kingdom's Vision 2030, which looks to diversify the country's rentier economic model away from oil.
