There is “significant concern” among domestic leagues around the world over how a Saudi Arabian World Cup in 2034 is likely to cause an even greater disruption to the calendar than Qatar 2022, with particular frustration about how a decision that is now set to be a fait accompli involved almost no consultation with primary stakeholders. While key figures and member associations are waiting to see how the bid process plays out ahead of final confirmation in the fourth quarter of 2024, many are already concerned about how there has been less transparency to this process than in the controversial bids for Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022 in December 2010.
Football Australia confirmed they would not be bidding for the 2034 World Cup on Tuesday, leaving Saudi Arabia as the sole candidate for a tournament that is still 11 years away. With 2030 set to feature games in South America, Africa and Europe, and 2026 going to Central and North America, Fifa’s rotation rules mean only countries from the Asian Football Confederation and Oceania Football Confederation were eligible for 2034. That essentially left Australia and New Zealand as competitors to Saudi Arabia, as so many Asian countries rowed in behind Saudi Arabia. Given they still had to come up with three new stadiums in the space of three weeks before the deadline due to Fifa’s rules, various factors have combined to leave Saudi Arabia as the only candidate left.
