Australia drops plan to bid for FIFA World Cup 2034, clears way for Saudi Arabia to host

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FIFA World Cup: Australia has decided against pursuing a bid to host the 2034 World Cup, clearing the path for Saudi Arabia to become the host nation for the tournament.

FIFA's deadline for expressions of interest passed, and Football Australia released a statement indicating that while they had explored the possibility of bidding, they ultimately opted not to do so.

The statement explained their decision, stating, "After careful consideration of all relevant factors, we have concluded that it is not feasible to bid for the 2034 competition."

Football Australia expressed its eagerness to bring major tournaments to the country and highlighted its strong position to host the Women's Asian Cup in 2026, followed by the 2029 FIFA Club World Cup, welcoming top football teams to their shores.

This plan falls in the midst of significant sporting events, including the 2023 Women's World Cup and the 2032 Olympics in Brisbane, creating what they referred to as a "truly golden decade for Australian football."

In contrast, Saudi Arabia swiftly declared its interest in hosting the 2034 World Cup after FIFA outlined the hosting process. The announcement came just hours after FIFA's declaration, confirming their bid for the prestigious tournament.

The 2026 World Cup was awarded to the United States, Canada, and Mexico, and it appears that Spain, Portugal, and Morocco are set to host the 2030 finals, pending formal approval from FIFA's congress. As a result, only bids from the Asian Football Confederation and the Oceania Football Confederation will be considered for the 2034 World Cup.

Saudi Arabia made its intentions clear on October 4, with Saudi Minister of Sport Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal stating that hosting the 2034 FIFA World Cup was a significant step in the nation's ambition to become a prominent figure in global sports.

He emphasized that it marked a substantial milestone in the country's transformation and its pursuit of becoming a welcoming home for all sports, positioning itself as a natural choice to host the FIFA World Cup.

In a statement via the Saudi Press Agency, he said: "Hosting a FIFA World Cup in 2034 would help us achieve our dream of becoming a leading nation in world sport and would mark a significant milestone in the country's transformation. As an emerging and welcoming home for all sports, we believe that hosting a FIFA World Cup is a natural next step in our football journey."