Ashraf AboArafe
FIFA announced that the Kingdom’s bid to host the FIFA World Cup™ 2034 received a rating of 419.8 out of 500, which is the highest technical rating that FIFA has ever given to a bid submitted to host the World Cup, as a new Saudi achievement that embodies the pioneering role and the qualitative and exceptional shift that the Kingdom is experiencing and the great care and generous support it receives from the wise leadership – may God protect it – in various fields, including the sports field, according to clear and comprehensive visions and goals carried by the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.
The announcement of the technical evaluation of the 2030 and 2034 World Cup bids comes as a prelude to the decision to select the host countries for the two tournaments through the FIFA General Assembly on December 11 at the end of this year.
The Kingdom’s hosting of the global football event received unlimited attention, empowerment and support from the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud – may God support him – and His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister – may God protect him – which contributed to the file gaining the confidence of the international community.
Last October, the official delegation of the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) conducted its inspection tour to review the details of the Kingdom’s candidacy to host the global football event, where it visited the cities hosting the tournament, the sports projects and facilities included in the hosting file, and reviewed the comprehensive plans and all upcoming preparations for the Kingdom to host the global football event with the presence of (48) teams in one country for the first time in history.
On this occasion, His Royal Highness Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki bin Faisal, Minister of Sports and Chairman of the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee, expressed his great thanks and gratitude to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister – may God protect them – for their great care and interest, and their unlimited support that contributed to achieving many dreams of sports and athletes in our great country and achieving this historic achievement by obtaining the Saudi file with an exceptional wonderful evaluation by the highest authority in the game of football represented by the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA).”
His Highness continued: “This success reflects the great and fruitful cooperation between the various sectors of the state and the great energies and capabilities that the Saudi citizen possesses to present the most beautiful image of our beloved Kingdom, and to welcome the whole world with all love by preparing all the conditions to present an exceptional version of the global football event.”
For his part, Head of the Bid File Unit, Hammad Al-Balawi, said: “We are proud today of this evaluation that reflects the Kingdom’s efforts in presenting the highest technical standards through the bid file, as we were keen through the file to present All the capabilities that would advance the game of football and provide a distinguished experience, by providing integrated sports stadiums and facilities according to the highest engineering and technical specifications, taking into account the highest standards of safety and rights for all participants in organizing the tournament.”
He added: “The Kingdom’s candidacy file presents 5 host cities with a diverse cultural and civilizational character that helps fans and football lovers explore unique cultures and experiences in various regions of the Kingdom, in addition to (10) other hosting sites that contribute to enhancing the experience of the participating teams through training camps and modern sports facilities, in addition to providing high accessibility between cities.”
The Kingdom had officially submitted its candidacy file to host the FIFA World Cup™ 2034 last July under the slogan “Together We Grow”, in which it revealed its ambitious plans to host the most important tournament in the world of football in 15 stadiums distributed across five host cities: Riyadh, Jeddah, Al-Khobar, Abha, and Neom, in addition to ten other hosting sites across the Kingdom.
Media Section of the Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Cairo.
