On Tuesday, Australia chose not to submit a bid for hosting the 2034 FIFA World Cup, a decision made shortly before the ‘declarations of interest’ deadline.
This decision had been anticipated for some time, particularly after Saudi Arabia officially expressed interest in hosting the tournament last month. Football Australia stated that their decision was reached after a comprehensive evaluation of all relevant factors.
The Australian Football Association issued a statement, explaining that while they would not be bidding for the 2034 World Cup, they still had an interest in hosting the Women’s Asian Cup in 2026 and the 2029 Club World Cup. They highlighted the strategic advantage of Australian time zones for international tournaments, offering opportunities for broadcasters and proximity to vast populations in Asia and Oceania, which contributed to a strong commercial outlook for hosting global competitions.
The main reason Australia opted not to bid was the series of events that unfolded after FIFA announced the host countries for the 2030 World Cup. Saudi Arabia promptly signaled its intent to host the event by submitting a letter of intent to FIFA. According to the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF), more than 70 FIFA member associations from various continents pledged their support for Saudi Arabia’s bid. The tipping point for Australia came when the Asian Football Confederation also decided to back Saudi Arabia’s bid for the 2034 World Cup.
Australia’s decision not to submit a bid has now paved the way for Saudi Arabia to be a strong contender in the bid to host the tournament. If all the pieces fall into place, the FIFA World Cup will return to Asia, with Saudi Arabia having the opportunity to host the event, 12 years after Qatar hosted the 2022 World Cup.
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