Saudi Arabia is set to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup following Australia’s withdrawal from the bidding process. FIFA had initially announced that the tournament would be held in either Asia or Oceania, with Australia and Saudi Arabia being the only two countries to present concrete proposals. However, Australia withdrew its bid just hours before FIFA’s official deadline for declarations of interest.
The upcoming 2034 FIFA Men’s World Cup will mark the third time the tournament is held in Asia, with the first being in 2002 when Japan and South Korea jointly hosted it, and the second being the Qatar 2022 World Cup. In addition to the 2034 World Cup, Saudi Arabia is gearing up to host the AFC Asian Cup in 2027. To accommodate these events, new stadiums are under construction in Riyadh and Dammam, with the possibility of using them for the 2034 World Cup. Plans are also in place to expand the capacity of the King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh from approximately 56,000 to over 80,000.
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Saudi Arabia Succeeds After Australia Withdraws from The Process
Jeddah is another host city for both tournaments, and matches will likely be held at the King Abdullah Sports City. With the 2030 FIFA World Cup set to be co-hosted by Morocco, Portugal, and Spain, and including three matches in South America (Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay), the world of football is in for an exciting series of events over the next decade.
