Saudi Football Federation "Hosting a World-Class Tournament"
Saudi Arabia, emerging as a major player in the international sports industry, is pushing to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup as the sole host.
The Saudi Football Federation stated in an official announcement on the 4th (local time), "We will host a world-class tournament inspired by the ongoing socio-economic transformation in Saudi Arabia and the deep-rooted passion for football."
Saudi Arabia's declaration to host the tournament alone came shortly after FIFA mentioned AFC member countries as potential hosts for the 2034 event.
This is not Saudi Arabia's first attempt to host the World Cup. Previously, it pursued a 'three-continent joint bid' for the 2030 World Cup along with Egypt and Greece but withdrew in June.
The 2030 World Cup was decided to be jointly hosted by Morocco (Africa), Spain, and Portugal (Europe). However, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the World Cup, some matches and events, including the opening match, will be held in South America, in countries such as Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay.
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia has recently risen as a major investor in the sports industry. It has invested huge sums in its domestic professional football league and actively recruited globally renowned star athletes. The LIV Golf tournament, sponsored by the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF), merged with the PGA Tour just one year after its launch.
Mohammed bin Salman, the powerful Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, is promoting the national strategic project 'Vision 2030.' Vision 2030 aims to transform Saudi Arabia, which has long been an economy centered on fossil fuels, into a competitive nation across various fields including science and culture.
Saudi Arabia's sponsorship of major sports leagues using PIF's financial power is also part of Vision 2030. Recently, PIF has actively invested in video game companies listed on the stock market.
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