The President of the Asian Football Confederation, Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa, considered that “Saudi Arabia is able to host the World Cup,” but it is necessary to “choose the right time” for his continent to host the global event in 2030 or 2034.
And while Asia hosted the World Cup twice in its history, in 2002 in South Korea and Japan and 2022 in Qatar, Saudi Arabia’s interest in hosting the global event that takes place every four years is hesitating.
The President of the Asian Football Confederation, Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa, considered that “Saudi Arabia is able to host the World Cup,” but it is necessary to “choose the right time” for his continent to host the global event in 2030 or 2034.
And with the upcoming 2026 edition being held in the United States, Canada and Mexico for the first time in three countries, competition is taking place to host the 2030 edition with the emergence of a joint European-African file for Spain, Portugal and Morocco, and another South American that includes Argentina, Chile, Uruguay and Paraguay, coinciding with the 100th anniversary of the establishment of The first World Cup in the Uruguayan capital, Montevideo.
And last September, the official spokesman for the Egyptian Ministry of Youth and Sports, Muhammad Fawzi, announced that his country was studying with Saudi Arabia and Greece to run in a joint file, while the Saudi Minister of Sports, Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal, revealed to AFP in February that his country had not submitted a candidacy file. , stressing at the same time that “anything is possible.”
In an interview with journalists in Beirut on the sidelines of his recent visit to Syria and Lebanon, Bin Ibrahim said on Monday, “Saudi Arabia is coming with force, and we are coordinating with the continental federations and the International Federation to host the 2030 or 2034 World Cup in agreement with everyone. When the file is submitted, we want to ensure that it succeeds by at least 90 percent.” “.
And Bin Ibrahim added, “I think that Saudi Arabia is a country capable of organizing a similar tournament, but we have to choose the right time, in 2030 or 2034, according to the circumstances and success rates.”
2030 or 2034
Ben Brahim, who was re-elected by acclamation in February for a third term until 2027, added, “As an Asian Confederation, we form 47 votes, while winning needs more than 110 votes. We must have the support of other continents. We are coordinating the appropriate time to host this championship, whether in 2030 or 2034.” It is important to us that the Saudi file be successful when it is presented, and we assume our responsibilities, and this is a commitment from me personally, but the right time must be chosen.
And Saudi Arabia had obtained the right to host the 2027 Asian Cup, with its file remaining alone, after the withdrawal of India, Uzbekistan and Iran.
It will be the first hosting of Saudi Arabia, the defending champion three times (1984, 1988 and 1996), for the finals, which began in 1956.
Saudi Arabia, the world’s largest oil exporter, has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in sports deals, including the acquisition of Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo to Al-Nasr Club, the Formula One race in Jeddah, football matches for the most prestigious European clubs, and world championships in golf and boxing.
In the coming years, Saudi Arabia, which witnessed Qatar hosting the first World Cup in the Middle East and an Arab country in late 2022, will host the 2026 Asian Women’s Cup, the 2034 Asian Games, and even the 2029 Asian Winter Games on artificial snow in the giant futuristic city of Neom.
Since Prince Mohammed bin Salman assumed the position of Crown Prince in 2017, Saudi Arabia has witnessed a social openness after decades of closure and severe restrictions imposed, especially on women.
Investing in sports is part of the “Vision 2030” strategy approved in 2016 to diversify the oil-dependent economy in this Gulf state.
