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Saudi 2034 World Cup bid boosted by full AFC support, FIFA’s Asian tournament pledge

During the meeting, FIFA President Gianni Infantino urged AFC members to “be united for the 2034 World Cup.” (Screenshot/Reuters)
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Updated 19 September 2024
AP
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Saudi 2034 World Cup bid boosted by full AFC support, FIFA’s Asian tournament pledge

  • AFC members responded quickly to Infantino’s urging and the Japan federation proposed united support behind the Saudi bid backed by Uzbekistan, Lebanon and India
Updated 19 September 2024
AP

GENEVA: Saudi Arabia’s FIFA-favored bid to host the men’s World Cup in 2034 passed on Wednesday one of the few barriers left in what seems an inevitable win.

One week after revealing talks with Australia about bidding to co-host the 2034 World Cup, Indonesian football leader Erick Thohir said his federation is now with Saudi Arabia.

Thohir’s change of plan was detailed in a statement on the Indonesian football federation website hours before an online meeting of the Asian Football Confederation, whose 47 members include Australia, Indonesia and Saudi Arabia.

During the meeting, FIFA President Gianni Infantino urged AFC members to “be united for the 2034 World Cup.”

Infantino has long been a close ally of Saudi football and the kingdom’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and FIFA’s surprise decision two weeks ago to fast-track bidding for the 2034 men’s tournament was seen as favorable for them.

AFC members responded quickly to Infantino’s urging and the Japan federation proposed united support behind the Saudi bid backed by Uzbekistan, Lebanon and India.

“Japan has a plan to host the FIFA World Cup by 2050 but now it’s time for Asia to get united and make a single bid (for 2034),” Japanese federation official Tsuneyasu Miyamoto said, praising Saudi Arabia for a “long football history, massive passion and a wonderful vision for 2034.”

Australian officials did not take part in the online discussion.

After an initial technical problem connecting to the meeting, Saudi federation president Yasser Al-Misehal said: “It’s always known that Asia is always united.”

“We have been overwhelmed by a huge number of supporting letters, announcements from all over the world. This puts a big responsibility on us to really deliver a successful bid,” said Al-Misehal. He is a member of the FIFA Council and likely candidate for the AFC presidency in 2027, the year Saudi Arabia hosts the men’s Asian Cup after an extensive stadium-building program.

The Infantino-chaired FIFA Council agreed two weeks ago only members of the AFC and Oceania’s football body — New Zealand and scattered Pacific islands — can bid for the 2034 tournament, and also accepted just a single 2030 co-host bid teaming Europe, Africa and South America across six nations.

FIFA give federations in Asia and Oceania an Oct. 31 deadline to show interest and just one month more to submit a detailed bidding agreement with government support.

Saudi Arabia confirmed its intention almost immediately after FIFA opened the contest on Oct. 4. Within minutes, the AFC’s president, Bahraini royal family member Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al-Khalifa, said the Saudis had its united backing.

Speculation about an Australia-Indonesia plan, possibly including Malaysia and Singapore, suggested there was not total Asian unity.

Indonesia’s announcement Wednesday isolated Australia if it wants to make a 2034 bid to follow its successful co-hosting of the 2023 Women’s World Cup with New Zealand.

“There is enough division already all over the world. We have occasions to send messages of unity,” Infantino said Wednesday in a video message from Zurich to AFC members.

Infantino reminded them of his message at a football officials’ meeting this month in Tashkent, Uzbekistan — “to be united in Asia as well, to be united for the 2034 World Cup.”

FIFA wants to confirm the 2030 and 2034 World Cup hosts late next year at separate meetings of its 211-member federations.

The Europe-led bid of Spain, Portugal, Morocco, Argentina, Paraguay and the inaugural 1930 host Uruguay is the consensus choice for 2030. The South Americans are set to get just one game each of the 104-game slate, yet that removes their football body from the 2034 picture as FIFA looks to rotate hosting between continents.

North and Central American football body CONCACAF gets its turn in 2026 when the United States, Canada and Mexico host the first 48-team, 104-game edition.

Thohir, an Indonesian government minister who has close ties to Infantino, said Wednesday his country still aims to host when Asia next gets its turn after 2034. That could be in 2046.

Indonesia hosts the men’s Under-17 World Cup for FIFA next month after being stripped in March of the Under-20 version because the Muslim-majority nation refused to stage the games of Israel, which had qualified.

The Australian football federation also has shown interest in hosting the 32-team Club World Cup for FIFA in 2029. Getting a FIFA promise for that tournament is a potential price for letting the Oct. 31 deadline pass.

Saudi Arabia will host the last annual seven-team Club World Cup for FIFA in December. The club tournament is relaunched as a four-yearly, 32-team tournament in June 2025 in the United States.

Winning World Cup hosting rights can accelerate a Saudi state football project fueled by oil riches, which has already led to the buying of Premier League club Newcastle, the take over and funding of four storied domestic clubs, plus sponsorship of international competitions by the “Visit Saudi” tourism board.

The project is surging despite long-standing concerns about human rights in the kingdom and a reputational crisis for the crown prince after the 2018 killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

Topics: football FIFA 2034 FIFA World Cup Saudi Arabia FIFA World Cup 2034

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Last-gasp strike keeps Al-Nassr top of SPL in Ronaldo’s absence

Updated 9 sec ago
Mohammed Fayad
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Last-gasp strike keeps Al-Nassr top of SPL in Ronaldo’s absence

  • Luis Maximiano denied Al-Nassr 9 times on nine occasions before Mohamed Simakan scored in stoppage time
  • Al-Qadsiah still seek to mount unlikely title challenge after defeating Al-Kholood 4-1
Updated 9 sec ago
Mohammed Fayad

DAMMAM: There was a sense of concern in the Al-Nassr camp this week. Cristiano Ronaldo’s injury was deemed more serious than initially believed by Jorge Jesus, prompting the Portuguese star to travel to Spain for treatment.

That meant that Al-Nassr’s pursuit of the title would be hindered by the absence of their leading scorer.

It was only last month, however, that Ronaldo missed two league games for Al-Nassr due to his dissatisfaction with the club’s performance during the winter transfer window. Al-Nassr won both games, but Ronaldo returned to silence his doubters, scoring four across their next five fixtures.

The reality is that after a mid-season blip, Jesus has revived the spirit within his squad. Al-Nassr came into their clash against Neom on a 10-game winning streak. It was the second time this season they had reached that mark, before Al-Ettifaq halted their run with a draw in late December.

This time, Al-Nassr were determined to break that 10-match ceiling. Standing in their way was a Neom side stuck in mid-table but talented enough to cause problems and playing with little pressure.

Replacing Ronaldo was Abdullah Al-Hamdan. After scoring the decisive goal against Arkadag in the AFC Champions League Two Round of 16 first leg — as well as the strike that sealed Al-Nassr’s victory against Al-Fayha last week — optimism around the former Al-Hilal forward was high.

Unfortunately for Al-Hamdan, he was brought back down to earth. Five attempts on goal — including a poor effort in the 63rd minute after what had been Al-Nassr’s clearest opportunity — summed up his evening. He was replaced moments later by Abdulrahman Ghareeb as Al-Nassr searched for new solutions to break down Christophe Galtier’s side.

Neom proved difficult to dismantle as a unit and even tougher in individual duels. Despite Al-Nassr focusing much of their attacking play down the left to exploit the space behind Mohammed Al-Burayk, the trio of Amadou Kone, Awn Al-Saluli and Nathan Zeze repeatedly shut them down.

Angelo Gabriel’s return to the starting line-up was a welcome sight for Al-Nassr supporters but although he posed  a threat and showed flashes of creativity on the ball, the hosts were wasteful in front of goal. With 24 shots and nine saves by Luis Maximiano, it felt like a game where a draw would feel like defeat.

Joao Felix was by far Al-Nassr’s most influential attacking outlet. His subtle movement between the lines created passing options through Neom’s defensive block and he threatened Maximiano’s goal on several occasions occasion, though without success.

Most notably, two shots within the space of a minute saw Felix denied by the Portuguese goalkeeper. Al-Nassr threw numbers forward, practically stationed on the edge of the box, but he remained unbeatable.

The final 10 minutes saw the Neom goalkeeper kick into a different gear. In the 83rd minute, Angelo wriggled into the box and delivered a low cross to Sadio Mane, whose close-range effort was parried away. A minute later, Felix found himself on the edge of the six-yard box with a clear sight of goal, only for Maximiano to produce a stunning save with his shin.

In the final moments of the game, it seemed that Jorge Jesus and Al-Nassr had finally learned from their earlier frustrations and Al-Nassr finally found their way past Maximiano in stoppage time.

It was none other than Felix who created the breakthrough, delivering a dangerous cross from a free-kick, but it was not an attacker who applied the finish.

Mohamed Simakan rose above the Neom defense to power home the header at the death, sealing a 1-0 victory and securing the all-important three points to keep Al-Nassr’s advantage at the top of the table.

Elsewhere in the Saudi Pro League, Al-Qadsiah continue to keep the pressure on the top three, with a decisive 4-1 victory against Al-Kholood, which was due to be played on Thursday before Al-Qadsiah’s initial flight to Qassim. Mateo Retegui and Julian Quinones both scored a brace on the road to victory.

Meanwhile, Al-Okhdood suffered a damaging 5-0 defeat to Al-Fayha to remain deep in the relegation zone, while Al-Ettifaq and Al-Shabab shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw at E’GO Stadium in Dammam.

With the conclusion of Matchday 25, the title race is set to intensify with nine match weeks remaining. Al-Nassr remain top on 64 points, with Al-Ahli in second on 62, Al-Hilal in third on 61 and Al-Qadsiah in fourth on 57.

Saudi Pro League action resumes on Thursday, with the Eastern Province playing host to all title contenders. On Friday, Al-Qadsiah host Al-Ahli in Dammam before Saturday sees Al-Fateh welcome Al-Hilal and Al-Khaleej take on Al-Nassr.

Topics: AlNassr SPL Ronaldo football

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