AGS NEWS – Saudi Arabia has formally initiated its bid, dubbed “Growing Together,” to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup, announced by the Saudi Arabia Football Federation (SAFF) on Friday.

Last October, Saudi Arabia emerged as the sole contender after Australia withdrew from the race just hours before FIFA’s deadline for countries to express their interest in hosting the tournament.

Despite being the only contender, FIFA regulations necessitate that the Gulf Kingdom submit an official bid for the tournament before final confirmation by a FIFA congress later this year.

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Yasser Al Misehal, president of the Saudi Arabia Football Federation, emphasized the nation’s “rapid transformation” as a key factor in winning the bid, stating that sharing their football narrative globally is paramount.

Al Misehal stated, “We’ve made unprecedented progress in both the men’s and women’s game, and our bid is an open invitation to the world to join us on this exciting journey.”

Reports suggest that Saudi Arabia has allocated over £5 billion to football development as part of its efforts to diversify its economy.

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However, criticism has arisen, particularly from Western quarters, alleging that Saudi Arabia is engaging in “sportwashing” to conceal its human rights violations, despite hosting various major sporting events such as Formula One, golf, and boxing.