October 31, (THEWILL) – Australia has withdrawn their potential bid for the 2034 FIFA World Cup, according to an announcement on Tuesday, from Football Australia. This leaves Saudi Arabia as the sole remaining nation pursuing hosting duties for the prestigious tournament.
Football Australia explained they have decided to focus efforts instead on bringing other major events down over the next decade. This includes the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup, 2029 FIFA Club World Cup, and 2032 Olympic Games in Brisbane.
With the deadline of 31 October set by FIFA now passed, Saudi Arabia, who submitted their official bid on 9 October, are set to be considered as potential hosts. They outlined a “commitment to present the most competitive bid possible” to unite the world through football.
The withdrawal of Australia means it is now more likely than ever that the 2034 World Cup will return to the Middle East. This follows Qatar’s successful hosting of the 2022 tournament, which was shifted to November and December to avoid the intense summer heat.
Saudi Arabia will be hoping to avoid the criticisms Qatar faced over human rights concerns. Furthermore, hosting the World Cup in winter again would cause further disruption to domestic leagues around the world. Yet, FIFA and the eventual 2034 hosts will be looking for the tournament to progress the game globally, an objective that the Saudi Arabian bid is determined to attain.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
