After Australia’s withdrawal, Saudi Arabia’s chances of hosting the 2034 World Cup are strengthening

Saudi Arabia took an additional step towards obtaining the honor of hosting the 2034 FIFA World Cup after Australia decided on Tuesday not to submit its candidacy file. Sports are a key element in the reform agenda launched by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, which aims to transform the Kingdom into a tourism and business center.

Saudi Arabia’s chances of hosting the 2034 FIFA World Cup have been strengthened after the Australian Football Association decided on Tuesday not to submit a candidacy, yielding to pressure after the Asian Football Confederation threw its weight behind the Kingdom’s bid.

The Australian Federation said in a statement: “We investigated the possibility of submitting a nomination to host the FIFA World Cup, and after taking all factors into account, we reached the conclusion that this will not be done in the 2034 edition.”

Sports are a major element in the reform agenda launched by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, which aims to transform the Kingdom into a tourism and business center while transforming the economy and diversifying its sources away from fossil fuels.

Earlier this year, Saudi Arabia was confirmed to host the 2027 Asian Cup in football, and last year it won the rights to host the 2029 Asian Winter Games.