Saudi Arabia is set to host the 2034 men’s FIFA World Cup after Australia withdrew its interest in hosting the global showpiece just hours before the bid deadline on Tuesday. Instead the Australia football federation has opted to proceed with their bids for the Women’s Asian Cup in 2026 and the FIFA Club World Cup in 2029. In a press release sent out on Tuesday, FIFA confirmed that Saudi Arabia was the only bidder for the 2034 tournament. In 2022, Oleksandr Usyk beat Anthony Joshua at the King Abdullah Sports City Arena in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia in a heavyweight title clash. To host the World Cup would be viewed as a major coup for Saudi Arabia, which has been frequently been criticized of sportswashing.

Source: CNN October 31, 2023 17:15 UTC