By Milcah Tanimu
In a significant turn of events, Australia has chosen not to bid for the 2034 men’s football World Cup, clearing the path for Saudi Arabia to potentially host the tournament. Football Australia announced their decision on Tuesday, citing a thorough evaluation of various factors. The Asian Football Confederation had thrown its support behind Saudi Arabia, making them the frontrunner for the event.
FIFA had invited bids from the Asia and Oceania regions after naming Morocco, Spain, and Portugal as joint hosts for the 2030 World Cup. While there were initial discussions about a joint bid from Indonesia and Australia for 2034, Indonesia later expressed its support for the Saudi bid.
Saudi Arabia’s aspiration to host the 2034 World Cup aligns with their broader efforts to establish the kingdom as a global sports hub. This follows Qatar’s successful hosting of the first-ever World Cup in the Middle East last year.
With the World Cup bid abandoned, Australia is now setting its sights on the Women’s Asian Cup in 2026 and the 2029 FIFA Club World Cup. Football Australia expressed optimism, stating that achieving these milestones, in addition to hosting the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2023 and the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games, would mark a truly golden decade for Australian football. Australia and New Zealand previously co-hosted the Women’s World Cup in a competition widely regarded as successful earlier this year.
Leave a Reply