Commentary: Indonesian talks to co-host the 2034 World Cup was an ASEAN mirage

SINGAPORE: News last week that Australia had dropped out of the bidding process for the 2034 World Cup came as no surprise to anyone following the proceedings. Australia’s 11th-hour pull-out left Saudi Arabia as the lone candidate for the World Cup that really had been long in the bag for them.

That Saudi Arabia had designs to host the World Cup comes as no surprise. They have shown their footballing ambitions with aggressive moves in recent years to lure the world’s best players to their domestic league, spearheaded by superstar Cristiano Ronaldo and to a lesser extent by the likes of former Liverpool skipper Jordan Henderson and Brazilian star Neymar.

Qatar’s historic World Cup last year - with a scoring record of 172 goals - showed in no uncertain terms that the world’s biggest football tournament can most definitely be held in the Middle East, hostile climate notwithstanding. As the first in the region to hold the mega event, Qatar spared no expense, spending US$220 billion over a dozen years to build roads, stadiums and hotels, and a completely new rail network.

With Saudi Arabia’s untold wealth, who can stop them if they really, really want to host the World Cup? 

Certainly not FIFA who, by ensuring that the 2030 World Cup will be played on three continents - South America, Africa and Europe - cleared the path for the World Cup’s return to Asia as quickly as 2034 and the massive payday that beckons for football’s world governing body.

When FIFA opened the bidding on Oct 4, it took Saudi Arabia mere minutes to lodge their interest to host the tournament. It was only a week later that Indonesia made known their intention for a joint bid with Australia, ostensibly roping in Southeast Asian neighbours Malaysia and