Gianni Infantino, President of the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA), confirmed that Saudi Arabia will host the 2034 FIFA World Cup. This news is no longer a big surprise, after Australia announced that it no longer wants to organize the tournament.
“Football unites the world more than any other sport. The World Cup is the perfect stage for a message of unity and inclusion. It is also able to show how different cultures can better understand each other.”
Earlier on Tuesday, it became clear that Australia no longer wanted to organize the tournament 11 years ago. This made Saudi Arabia, which is criticized by human rights organizations, the only competitor. Human Rights Watch said in its initial response that this was a “disgrace.” The organization points to human rights violations in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the lack of freedom of the press, and discrimination against gay people.
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Infantino says the FIFA Council also formally approved the allocation “after constructive and extensive consultations”, something that was in fact not expected until later. The Chairman of the Board of Directors said: “Thank you to everyone who contributed to this.”
Last year the World Cup was with Qatar also in the Middle East. In three years, the next world championships will be in Canada, Mexico and the United States. In 2030, the footballers will play in Spain, Portugal and Morocco, while the first three matches will be held in South America. “This makes football truly global,” Infantino says of the fact that five continents will be visited in the coming years.
Chief Executive James Johnson said Football Federation Australia had decided to withdraw its bid after “considering all factors”. Australia is now focusing on hosting the Women’s Asian Cup in 2026 and the Club World Cup in 2029.
Amnesty International believes FIFA has “scored its own target” now that there is only one bid on the table to host the 2034 World Cup. “FIFA must be prepared to halt the bidding process if human rights violations are not addressed effectively.” Reliable. Steve Cockburn, Amnesty International’s chief economic and social justice officer, said in a statement: “This matter has been addressed.”
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