In a groundbreaking achievement, Saudi Arabia’s bid to host FIFA World Cup 2034 has received the highest score in bidding history, reported the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).
The International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) announced that Saudi Arabia’s file to host the event achieved a score of 419.8 out of 500, the highest evaluation given by FIFA to a file submitted to host the event.
The announcement came two weeks ahead of FIFA’s decision on 2030 and 2034 host countries, scheduled on December 11, 2024, during the federation general assembly.
Evaluation Process
The high evaluation of Saudi Arabia’s bid is a testament to the massive transformation in the Kingdom and the unwavering support of the Saudi leadership for various sectors, including sports, under the objectives of the ambitious Vision 2030.
In October, a FIFA delegation visited the Kingdom to review the details of the bid, inspecting the proposed host cities, stadiums, and facilities, as part of the evaluation process.
Massive Transformation
On this occasion, the Saudi Minister of Sport and President of the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee, Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal, said: “This score by FIFA simply reflects our commitment to grow the game, our rapid transformation and our desire to host the best possible tournament for the entire world to enjoy.”
Moreover, he noted that the score is “the result of our extensive efforts to present an exceptional bid and a testament to the collaboration between multiple entities across the Kingdom, driven by Vision 2030, which has enabled all sectors to unite behind a bid that represents the aspirations of the Kingdom’s leadership and the ambitions of the Saudi people.”
FIFA World Cup Plans
In July, Saudi Arabia officially submitted its bid book to host the FIFA World Cup 2034 under the slogan “Growing Together,” unveiling ambitious plans to host the grand football tournament.
According to the bid book, Saudi Arabia will host the tournament at 15 stadiums across 5 host cities: Riyadh, Jeddah, Al-Khobar, Abha and NEOM, in addition to other locations across the Kingdom.
Hosting the FIFA World Cup 2034 highlights the ongoing progress in Saudi Arabia under Vision 2030, which has positioned the Kingdom as a global sport hub, hosting multiple major sporting events, including FIFA Club World Cup and Formula 1 Grand Prix.
