Saudi Arabia is prepared to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup in summer or winter, its soccer chief said, after the oil giant became the sole bidder for the tournament.
“Of course, we are ready for all possibilities,” Saudi Arabian Football Federation president Yasser al-Misehal said late on Tuesday at the Asian Football Confederation awards in Doha.
Saudi Arabia’s successful bid, just 27 days after announcing it, comes less than a year after neighboring Qatar held the first winter World Cup, a decision that forced a pause to league competitions in Europe.
Photo: AFP
Summers in the desert kingdom can touch 50°C, temperatures that would be considered dangerous for soccer and likely too hot for fans to be outside.
“Today there are many new technologies that help you with cooling or adding air-conditioners in stadiums, in addition to the fact that there are many cities in the kingdom that enjoy a very wonderful atmosphere in the summer,” Misehal said.
Misehal said that Saudi Arabia intends to push ahead and host the tournament alone, without asking its neighbors to hold any games.
The world’s biggest oil exporter would then become the first country to host the newly expanded, 48-team World Cup alone, after the US, Canada and Mexico hold it in 2026 followed by Spain, Portugal and Morocco in 2030.
At this point, only “expressions of interest” have been submitted, although bidding is closed. After the full bids for 2030 and 2034 are handed over, they are to be evaluated by FIFA and put to a vote at two separate congress meetings at the end of next year.
Yet the absence of any competition leaves little room for suspense, while also raising numerous questions about the environmental impact of the 2030 event and the compatibility of the 2034 tournament with FIFA’s human rights commitments.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has already confirmed the 2030 and 2034 hosts in a post on Instagram, adding that “the bidding processes were approved by consensus via the FIFA Council.”
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