Saudi Arabia Submits Letter of Intent To Host 2034 World Cup

By: Gyang Dakwo

Saudi Arabia has taken the second step to bid for 2034 World Cup by submitting a letter of intent to host the event to World soccer governing body FIFA on Monday.

“Last week we announced our ambitions to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup, and this official submission continues our journey to make the dreams of our people a reality,” Yasser Al Misehal, President of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation SAFF said in a statement.

“We are extremely committed to presenting the most competitive bid possible that will also help unite the world through football,” he added.

SAFF said that once they declared their intention on Wednesday to bid for the tournament, “over 70 FIFA Member Associations from across different continents have publicly pledged their support for the Kingdom.”

The country staging the tournament could also mean another World Cup in November and December to avoid the heat of July and August – as was the case in Qatar last year.

Some of the world’s best players have been attracted to the Saudi Pro League, with clubs in the oil-rich kingdom paying huge transfer fees and wages as part of a new found interest in football.

Riyadh, the Saudi Arabian capital, has already been awarded the 2034 Asian Games so it could be a bumper year of sport in the Kingdom.

The Asian Football Confederation, of which Australia is also a member, and a number of countries have already backed the Saudi bid.