Saudi Arabia’s bid to host the 2034 men’s World Cup has taken a significant step forward, as one of its potential co-hosts, Indonesia, has changed its stance, aligning itself with Saudi Arabia’s bid. The announcement was made by Indonesian soccer leader Erick Thohir, one week after discussions with Australia about a joint bid to co-host the 2034 World Cup.
Indonesia’s decision to support Saudi Arabia’s bid was conveyed through a statement on the Indonesian soccer federation’s website, just hours before a crucial online meeting of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). The AFC comprises 47 member nations, including Australia, Indonesia, and Saudi Arabia.
During the AFC meeting, FIFA President Gianni Infantino urged members to “be united for the 2034 World Cup.” Infantino has long maintained close ties with Saudi soccer and the kingdom’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. FIFA’s unexpected move two weeks ago to expedite the bidding process for the 2034 men’s tournament was seen as favoring Saudi Arabia.
AFC members quickly rally behind Saudi bid
In response to Infantino’s call, AFC members swiftly rallied behind the Saudi bid, with support from Uzbekistan, Lebanon, and India. Japan, which had previously expressed interest in hosting the World Cup in 2050, also threw its weight behind the Saudi bid, advocating for Asian unity in bidding for the 2034 tournament.
Notably, Australian officials did not participate in the online discussion. Speculation had been circulating about a potential Australia-Indonesia bid, possibly involving Malaysia and Singapore, which had suggested a lack of total unity within Asia regarding the hosting bid.
Saudi Arabia had confirmed its intention to bid for the 2034 World Cup soon after FIFA opened the competition on October 4. The AFC’s president, Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, a member of Bahrain’s royal family, had promptly expressed the united backing of the AFC behind Saudi Arabia’s bid.
FIFA’s recent decision stated that only members of the AFC and Oceania’s soccer body—comprising New Zealand and scattered Pacific islands—were eligible to bid for the 2034 tournament. Furthermore, FIFA accepted just one joint bid for the 2030 World Cup, bringing together nations from Europe, Africa, and South America across six countries.
FIFA set an October 31 deadline for federations in Asia and Oceania to express their interest in hosting the 2034 tournament, with an additional month to submit a comprehensive bidding agreement with government support.
FIFA’s goal is to rotate hosting rights between continents.
The 2030 World Cup is widely believed to be the consensus choice for a joint bid from Spain, Portugal, Morocco, Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay. This decision would reduce the chances of South America hosting the 2034 tournament, aligning with FIFA’s goal of rotating hosting rights between continents.
CONCACAF (North and Central American soccer body) is scheduled to host the 2026 World Cup, with the United States, Canada, and Mexico serving as hosts for the expanded 48-team, 104-game edition.
Indonesian government minister Erick Thohir, who holds close ties with FIFA President Infantino, reaffirmed his country’s aspirations to host the World Cup when Asia’s next opportunity arises after 2034, potentially in 2046.
Indonesia is set to host the FIFA men’s Under-17 World Cup next month, following the loss of the Under-20 version earlier this year due to the country’s refusal to host matches involving Israel, which had qualified.
Additionally, the Australian soccer federation has expressed interest in hosting the 32-team FIFA Club World Cup in 2029, a tournament that could be promised to Australia by FIFA in exchange for not bidding for the 2034 World Cup.
Saudi Arabia is set to host the last annual seven-team Club World Cup for FIFA in December, before the tournament is relaunched as a 32-team event every four years in June 2025 in the United States.
The Saudi state’s substantial investment in soccer, propelled by oil wealth, has resulted in various acquisitions, including the purchase of the Premier League club Newcastle and the takeover of four prominent domestic clubs. The “Visit Saudi” tourism board has also sponsored international competitions as part of this soccer project. However, these initiatives have been met with longstanding concerns about human rights in the kingdom and a reputational crisis following the 2018 killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
