FIFA President Gianni Infantino has confirmed that Saudi Arabia will be hosting the 2034 World Cup.
The football governing body had previously stated that the tournament would take place in either Asia or Oceania.
With Australia expected to rival Saudi Arabia, it was revealed on Tuesday that Australia has decided against submitting a bid just hours before the deadline.
Instead, they are setting their sights on hosting the Women’s Asian Cup in 2026 and the Club World Cup in 2029.
Following Australia’s withdrawal, Infantino went onto social media to confirm that Saudi Arabia had won the bid for the 2034 World Cup.
The bidding process was approved by consensus via the FIFA Council where all six confederations were represented after constructive dialogue and extensive consultation.
Infantino said in his Instagram post, “Football unites the world like no other sport, and the FIFA World Cup is the perfect showcase for a message of unity and inclusion, as well as providing an important illustration of how different cultures can be together and can learn and better understand one another.”
He further added, “We all need these occasions of unity and the upcoming FIFA World Cups provide a unique force for good in this respect.
The FIFA Congress is set to take place later this year to confirm the hosts for both the 2030 and 2034 World Cup.
Co-hosts for the 2030 tournament have already been announced and include Spain, Portugal, and Morocco, with the opening matches taking place in Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay.
It is also worth noting that the 2026 World Cup will be hosted by the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
With this announcement from FIFA, Saudi Arabia is set to host one of the biggest sporting events in the world, which is expected to bring in massive revenues for the country while promoting unity and inclusivity.
