World Cup 2030 or 2034? A Saudi candidacy must aim for the edition most conducive to its chances of obtaining the organization of the flagship football competition, said the president of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), Salman ben Ibrahim al-Khalifa.
“Saudi Arabia is coming in force and we are in the process of coordinating with the other Confederations and Fifa to host the World Cup in 2030 or 2034, in agreement with everyone, so that, once the file has been submitted , we are at least 90% confident, ”explained the boss of the AFC, who spoke Monday in Beirut.
“I think Saudi Arabia is a country capable of hosting such a tournament but we have to choose the right time, 2030 or 2034,” added the Bahraini leader. But the question is not only related to the Asian Confederation. We have 47 votes, whereas it takes more than 110 votes to win the World Cup. We must have the support of other continents.”
The Morocco-Spain-Portugal trio as well as a South American quartet (Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay) have already applied for the 2030 World Cup. The idea of a joint candidacy between Saudi Arabia, Greece and Egypt was mentioned eight months ago by the Egyptian government, but has not yet been formalized.
Saudi Arabia, the world’s largest exporter of crude oil and the largest economic power in the Arab world, like its neighbors Qatar, which hosted the 2022 World Cup, is increasingly hosting sports competitions: a Grand Prix Formula 1, an ePrix (Electric Formula), the Dakar rally-raid, the Saudi Tour cyclist…
The kingdom was also designated last October to host the 2029 Asian Winter Games, a decision criticized by environmental activists due in particular to the desert climatic conditions.
Since the ascension of Crown Prince Mohammed ben Salmane, the country has embarked on a vast program of economic and social reforms intended to bring the country out of its great dependence on black gold but also to improve its international image, on funds recurring accusations of human rights violations.