Last Updated: October 31, 2023, 13:44 IST
FIFA World Cup trophy (Twitter)
Australia decided against bidding for the 2034 FIFA World Cup, strengthening Saudi Arabia’s position as favourite to host the event.
Australia will not bid for the 2034 World Cup after taking “all factors” into consideration, Football Australia said on Tuesday.
FIFA had invited bids from Asia and Oceania for the tournament, with an October 31 deadline.
FA boss James Johnson had previously expressed interest in bidding for 2034 but the governing body said it would focus on bids for the 2026 Women’s Asian Cup and the 2029 Club World Cup.
“We have explored the opportunity to bid to host the FIFA World Cup and – having taken all factors into consideration – we have reached the conclusion not to do so for the 2034 competition,” FA said in a statement.
Global football body FIFA has invited bids from the Asia and Oceania regions for the rotating World Cup hosting rights after naming Morocco, Spain and Portugal as joint hosts for 2030, also adding World Cup centenary games in Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay.
The president of the Asian Football Confederation, the sport’s continental governing body to which Australia belongs, said “the entire Asian football family” would stand united in support of the Saudi bid.
A week after FIFA’s invitation, Indonesia said it was in discussions with Australia about a possible joint bid along with Malaysia and Singapore – before saying a week later that it backed Saudi Arabia’s bid.
Australia and New Zealand jointly hosted the Women’s World Cup this year and it was generally regarded as a success.
Saudi Arabia announced it would bid for 2034 only minutes after FIFA’s invitation for bids from Asia and Oceania earlier this month.
The president of the Asian Football Confederation, the sport’s continental governing body to which Australia belongs, hailed Saudi Arabia’s bid and said “the entire Asian football family” would stand united in support of it.
(With inputs from Agencies)
