In a landmark announcement already receiving widespread disapproval, FIFA has confirmed Saudi Arabia as the sole host for the 2034 World Cup. FIFA also announced the hosts for the 2030 World Cup, a centenary edition of the tournament. Morocco, Spain, and Portugal are named as the primary hosts, but to celebrate the South American origin of the world's biggest event, the opening matches will be held in Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay. Uruguay was the first winner of the World Cup, back in 1930.
Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, was chosen without any opposition, as the other contender vying for the hosting rights, Australia, decided not to submit any competitive bids. A special congress was held in Zurich where Saudi Arabia received an impressive score of 4.2 out of 5. The move is seen as the country's sustained effort to modernise its image, and 'sportswashing' has emerged as the most potent tool.
Why Saudi Arabia is a Controversial Choice?
"As a nation that loves football it is expected that fans across the entire kingdom will naturally take to the streets and celebrate this historic moment if their country is confirmed as hosts," the Saudi Arabian bid team said in a statement. However, fans are not taking their statement on face value. Ever since Qatar successfully hosted the last edition of the World Cup, Saudi Arabia, under the leadership of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, have ramped up their efforts to bring the World Cup to their nation as a part of the mega image rebranding. The other reason why it's being condemned is how the rules were flouted by FIFA to favour Saudi Arabia. The governing body of football opened the bidding process abruptly, and other countries had just 25 days to prepare the formal documents, while Saudi Arabia had it ready immediately.
What Cristiano Ronaldo Has to Say About Saudi Arabia Being the Host for World Cup 2034?
In their quest to convince officials that they have a vibrant football culture, Saudi Arabia has been splurging money on some of the elite names of European football. Saudi Pro League, the top-tier football league of the country, boasts names like Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Karim Benzema, and others. Ronaldo, who currently plays for Al-Nassr, has been the biggest ambassador of the Saudi league, never shying away from praising the competitiveness of the league. After Saudi Arabia was confirmed as the host, Cristiano Ronaldo congratulated the nation on Twitter.
"2034 will be the best World Cup ever. It's amazing! The infrastructure, the stadiums, the conditions for the fans and everything and after what I see, I'm more convinced that 2034 will be the best World Cup ever," he wrote.
"One or two of these kids that I will be together with today will play in the World Cup. I believe that they will continue to grow, especially the women as well, that they grow very well too. We have to grow together in everything. Not only in football but in life and I will motivate them to work hard, believe in that," added the Portuguese legend.
How is Saudi Arabia Preparing for the World Cup?
Although the event is still a good decade away, the preparation for it is already in full swing. More than 100 matches will be held for which the country doesn't have capacity right now. The kingdom is planning to construct 15 state-of-the-art stadiums. Riyadh alone will have eight mega stadiums, while Jeddah, the port city of Saudi, will have four stadiums where matches will be played. A whopping sum of $900 billion has been allocated by the kingdom to complete the World Cup-related projects.
