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In a significant development for international football, Saudi Arabia is set to host the Men’s 2034 World Cup after Australia chose not to bid for the tournament. This decision by Football Australia was confirmed just hours before FIFA’s deadline for declarations of interest.
In a statement, Football Australia officially announced their choice, saying, “We have reached the conclusion not to do so for the 2034 competition.”
Saudi Arabia is now the sole nation to bid for the prestigious tournament, marking a significant milestone for the Middle Eastern nation. FIFA had previously stipulated that the 2034 World Cup would be held in Asia or Oceania, with Australia considered the primary contender to challenge Saudi Arabia’s bid.
The upcoming 2026 World Cup is scheduled to take place in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Furthermore, the 2030 World Cup is designated to be hosted by Morocco, Portugal, and Spain, with some matches also set to be played in Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay.
Saudi Arabia’s bid to host the 2034 World Cup, while significant for the nation’s football ambitions, may also be seen as controversial due to concerns about the country’s human rights record and other issues. Saudi Arabia has faced criticism for human rights violations, women’s rights abuses, the criminalization of homosexuality, restrictions on free speech, and its involvement in the war in Yemen.
The country’s international standing was notably affected by the 2018 killing of Jamal Khashoggi, a US-based Saudi journalist and government critic. Human rights advocates have accused the Saudi government of using sports events, a phenomenon known as ‘sportswashing,’ to divert attention from these ongoing concerns.
Qatar faced similar criticism when it hosted the 2022 World Cup, with concerns raised about its stance on same-sex relationships, its human rights record, and the treatment of migrant workers.
It’s important to note that, like the 2022 tournament, the 2034 World Cup would likely be held in the winter to mitigate extreme heat conditions during the summer.
Saudi Arabia has progressively increased its involvement in hosting major sporting events since 2018, including football, Formula 1, golf, and boxing. Saudi Arabia’s sports minister, Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki bin Faisal, sees the World Cup bid as a significant step for the football-loving nation.
The decision to host the World Cup is seen by some as part of Saudi Arabia’s broader strategy to leverage sports events to boost its image and economy, as reflected in the statement made by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who acknowledged the concept of ‘sportswashing.’
-The Post Ghana
