DUBAI: The president of the UAE took to social media on Wednesday, offering his support to Saudi Arabia after FIFA announced the Kingdom was the only country bidding to host the 2034 World Cup. “I wish good luck and success to the sister Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in organizing the 2034 FIFA World Cup,” Mohamed bin Zayed posted on X.com (formerly Twttier).
And he added: “Under the leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the Kingdom continues to develop and prosper.” تمنياتي بالتوفيق والنجاح للمملكة العربية السعودية الشقيقة في تنظيم كأس العالم لكرة القدم 2034.
بقيادة خادم الحرمين الشريفين والأمير محمد بن سلمان تواصل المملكة التنمية والازدهار. — محمد بن زايد (@MohamedBinZayed) November 1, 2023 On Tuesday the Kingdom became the only remaining bidder for the 2034 tournament after sole rivals Australia pulled out.
The decision is not official yet, that will be ratified at a special FIFA congress at the end of next year. Saudi Arabia had initially expressed interested in bidding for the 2030 World Cup alongside Egypt and Greece, but that idea was abandoned in June leaving the path open for a tri-continental bid by Spain, Portugal and Morocco, with three matches in South America.