RIYADH — Saudi Arabia’s bid to host the FIFA World Cup in 2034 started out as a remote possibility, with early projections indicating that the Kingdom had little to no chance of winning. However, after years of careful preparation, diplomatic efforts, and infrastructure spending, Saudi Arabia was able to turn that remote chance into a reality and win the tournament. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s attendance at the opening match of the FIFA World Cup in Russia in 2018 marked a turning point.
He initially shared his desire for the Kingdom to host the World Cup with his advisors and ministers during this period. He called a high-level meeting shortly after to see whether the bid was feasible. FIFA’s rotation policy at the time meant that 2042 would be the earliest possible opportunity. Officials remembered the early talks about the potential of hosting the tournament, first exploring a joint bid with Egypt and Greece for 2030 before refocusing on a single campaign for the 2034 World Cup, in two episodes of MBC’s Hikayat Waad (Promise Story) program.
Early talks centered on the obstacles that lay ahead, but the leadership was determined to overcome them, according to Minister of State Mohammed Al-Sheikh, who was instrumental in the bid. According to Al-Sheikh, “the difficulties made it seem impossible.” “However, the instruction was clear: Figure out how to make it happen.”
Also Read:
The UAE’s GDP Grew 3.8% in The First Nine Months of 2024
The Grand Mosque Administration Offers a Hair-Cutting Service For Ihram Departure
