The coast appears all cleared for Saudi Arabia to host the World Cup in 2034 after Australia confirmed it would not make a bid for footballโs global showpiece on Tuesdayโs deadline day.FIFA had invited bids from Asia and Oceania for the tournament by October 31.
Football Australia (FA) boss James Johnson had said the country was โexploring the possibilityโ of 2034, but on Tuesday the governing body said it would instead focus on bids for the 2026 Womenโs Asian Cup and the 2029 Club World Cup.
Australiaโs decision to not proceed with 2034 leaves Saudi Arabia as the only confirmed bidder.
Saudi Arabia announced it would bid only minutes after footballโs global governing body called for Asia and Oceania bids on October 4.
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The president of the Asian Football Confederation, the sportโs continental governing body to which Australia belongs, said โthe entire Asian football familyโ would stand united in support of the Saudi bid.
A week after Fifaโs invitation, Indonesia said it was in discussions with Australia about a possible joint bid along with Malaysia and Singapore โ before saying a week later that it backed Saudi Arabiaโs bid.
Australia hosted a successful Womenโs World Cup this year but has never hosted a menโs World Cup.
โWe believe we are in a strong position to host the oldest womenโs international competition in the world โ the AFC Womenโs Asian Cup 2026 and then welcome the greatest teams in world football for the 2029 Fifa Club World Cup,โ FA said.
โAchieving this โฆ would represent a truly golden decade for Australian football.โ Fifa awarded the 2030 World Cup to Morocco, Portugal and Spain, also adding World Cup centenary games in Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay.