SAUDI ARABIA WANTS TO HOST 2034 CUP
Saudi Arabia formally informed FIFA of its wish to host the men’s World Cup in 2034 on Monday in a bidding contest that increasingly looks designed for the kingdom to win.
The Saudi Arabian soccer federation said it “submitted a letter of intent and signed declaration to FIFA to bid” in a vote that is open only to members of the Asian and Oceania soccer governing bodies.
FIFA fast-tracked starting the 2034 contest last week after its ruling body also agreed to accept only one candidate for the 2030 World Cup — now an unprecedented six-nation, threecontinent co-hosting plan in Europe, Africa and South America that removed those continents from bidding to get back-to-back tournaments.
The Spain-Portugal-Morocco-Argentina-ParaguayUruguay project in 2030 will follow the inaugural 48team, 104-game tournament in 2026 in the United States, Mexico and Canada. That allows the 2034 edition to return to Asia 12 years after Qatar hosted the 2022 World Cup.
Last week, FIFA set tight deadlines of Oct. 31 to formally express interest in hosting and Nov. 30 to return a signed bidding agreement that requires the support of national governments.
Australian soccer officials have shown interest in the 2034 tournament after successfully co-hosting the 32-team women’s edition with New Zealand two months ago, but they now have only eight weeks to produce a bidding agreement.
Australia also may be short of the FIFA-demanded seven existing stadiums on a minimum slate of 14 soccer-suitable venues of at least 40,000-seating capacity.
Saudi Arabia, which is preparing to host the 2027 Asian Cup, meets that FIFA criteria.
Notable
Midfielder Malik Tillman will miss the United
States’ exhibitions against Germany and Ghana because of an unspecified injury.
The 21-year old left PSV Eindhoven’s match Sunday at Sparta Rotterdam after 72 minutes.
He was replaced on the roster by forward Alejandro Zendejas of Mexico’s América, who has seven international appearances.
• Former Brazil coach Tite took over at Flamengo, signing a contract that will run until the end of 2024.
The Rio de Janeiro club said on its social media channels that Tite’s staff would include the assistant coaches who worked under him during the six years he was in charge of Brazil.