AusLeisure

World football governing body FIFA has announced that the 2030 World Cup is to be hosted by Spain, Portugal and Morocco with initial matches to mark the centenary of the tournament to be held in Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay.

The surprise move to stage the 48-team tournament sees the combination of competing bids for the 2030 tournament and opens the way for Asia and Oceania to host its 2034 edition.

Moving quickly to confirm future hosts, FIFA has set 31st October as the deadline for potential bids to confirm their interest in hosting the 2034 men’s event.

While FIFA’s Council agreed on the ambitious 2030 hosting proposal at a virtual meeting yesterday, the hosting willl need to be confirmed in a vote taken by all 211 FIFA members in the final months of next year.

However, FIFA’s President, Gianni Infantino, describing the Morocco, Portugal and Spain bid as “a great message of peace, tolerance and inclusion”, adding “in a divided world, FIFA and football are uniting.”

World football’s governing body is committed to rotating World Cups between confederations and although the European (UEFA) and African (CAF) bid was the favourite for 2030, Conmebol - the South American confederation - has not hosted a World Cup since 2014 and was looking to commemorate the centenary of the first World Cup, held in Uruguay in 1930.

Recognising the anniversary, Infantino said the first match of the 2030 tournament would be held at the Estádio Centenário in Montevideo, the same venue as the first World Cup.

2034 World Cup in Asia
The decision, and the timing, appears to pave the way for Saudi Arabia to host the World Cup in 2034 and within hours the Kingdom unveiled its bid for that tournament.

Saudi Arabian had once been expected to lead a bid alongside Greece and Egypt for 2030, only to stand aside earlier this year.

Now, with FIFA inviting bids from Asia and Oceania to host in 2034, the Saudi Football Federation said it intends to bid alone, with Australian also looking to stage the event, potentially in partnership with Indonesia, the world’s fourth most populous country.

There may also be a proposal from China, which once set its sights on hosting the World Cup by 2030.

However, the Saudi Arabian Government, which is spending significant funds on football through its Public Investment Fund, appear to be the leading contender.

Saudi Football Federation President, Yasser al-Misehal stated “we believe the time is right for Saudi Arabia to host the FIFA World Cup. Our bid is driven by a love for the game and a desire to see it grow in every corner of the world.”

Australia given 25-day deadline to confirm 2034 World Cup bid
Football Australia, state and federal governments and potential Asian co-hosts have been given just 25 days by FIFA to decide whether they will bid for the 2034 men’s World Cup.

Following the success of its co-hosting of this year’s Women’s World Cup, Football Australia Chief Executive James Johnson, said the governing body is “exploring the possibility” of a 2034 bid. 

Johnson advised “we acknowledge FIFA’s communication regarding the FIF World Cup 2034 and we are encouraged that after the hugely successful FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023, the football family of Asia and Oceania will once again have the opportunity to showcase their ability to welcome the world and host the best FIFA tournaments.”

In August, Johnson told Guardian Australia discussions had started about an Australian 2034 bid.

At the time Johnson explained “what’s important is that the conversations need to begin now, and the agenda needs to begin being shaped because when we do bid for the next Men’s World Cup, we need to be ready.”

Co-hosts, including potentially New Zealand and countries in south-east Asia, will be needed for any Australian bid for the tournament. The bidding documents require a minimum of 14 stadiums.

After the 31st October deadline for associations to confirm interest in bidding, bids must be submitted by July 2024, before a decision is made by FIFA late next year.

Images: The FIFA World Cup trophy (top, credit: Shutterstock), Saudi Arabian fans at the 2018 FIFA World Cup (middletop, credit: Shutterstock) and Football Australia Chief Executive James Johnson (below, credit: Football Australia).

Related Articles

23rd September 2023 - Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman dismisses ‘sportswashing’ criticisms

17th September 2023 - Eden Park looks back on 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup success

12th September 2023 - Football Australia’s James Johnson calls for stadiums review ahead of 2032 Olympics and potential FIFA World Cup bid

8th September 2023 - Australian Federal Police share experience of all-female security teams at FIFA Women’s World Cup

27th August 2023 - Saudi Arabia to host Next Gen ATP Finals for next five years

23rd August 2023 - Victoria University sport experts give FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 an overall A-minus score

21st August 2023 - FIFA Fan Festivals exceeded all expectations

18th August 2023 - FIFA President hails ‘transformational’ Women’s World Cup

16th August 2023 - Massive interest in Matildas FIFA Women’s World Cup semi-final drives live sites across the nation

13th August 2023 - FIFA Women’s World Cup interest to see new live sites for historic Matildas semi-final

11th August 2023 - 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup hailed as ‘most successful in history’

10th August 2023 - Four Indonesian venues to host FIFA Under-17 World Cup fixtures

10th August 2023 - Event charts how FIFA Women’s World Cup is driving growth of female sport

19th June 2023 - Fatma Samoura to step down as FIFA Secretary General

8th June 2023 - FIFA’s claims over carbon-neutral Qatar 2022 World Cup found to be misleading

18th May 2023 - Official branding launched for FIFA World Cup 2026 along with campaign ‘WE ARE 26’

30th March 2023 - FIFA strips Indonesia of hosting rights for Under-20 World Cup

17th March 2023 - Saudi Arabian tourism agency will not be a sponsor at 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup

16th February 2023 - Saudi Arabia announces plans for three new stadia for 2027 AFC Asian Cup

4th January 2023 - Cristiano Ronaldo move to Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr to prompt a new era in Asian football

27th November 2018 - China to test FIFA World Cup bid in advance of target to host 2034 tournament

28th July 2017 - A-League clubs call on FFA to open up accounts going back to FIFA World Cup bid

28th June 2017 - Australia slammed in FIFA report on World Cup bidding

---

Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.