The deadline for submitting nominations to organize the event ended this Tuesday. World Cup 2034 In men’s football, and to no one’s surprise, Saudi Arabia was the only country to submit the so-called “declaration of interests” required to participate in the selection process. So the Saudi dictatorship will host the World Cup right after it will be held in Spain… Portugal, Morocco, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay. Even Gianni Infantino confirmed the good news in Saudi Arabia on his Instagram account. “Message of unity and solidarity” This is what the designation implies.
Thus, without leaving room for excessive noise or argument, a new chapter whitewashing of world sport Towards dictatorial regimes. In fact, the dictatorship meets all the official requirements, but it is just a bureaucracy, a procedure. Saudi Arabia, as before Train (World Cup 2022) or Chinese (Beijing Olympics 2008) has been normalized as a valid representative of the organizer of major international tournaments. Human rights? Who cares? For those who occupy the major offices of world sport, it is clear that this is not so.
FIFA will defend itself against any criticism that may (and will) arise by adhering to the fact that Saudi Arabia is merely a member association and enjoys the same opportunities as the others. And if the 2034 World Cup ends there, he will remain silent that it will be because of FIFA’s own established procedures. leaves practically no other possibility. Small decisions made one after the other, with no apparent connection, that make it impossible for the outcome to be different.
appointment process
See. In 2007, FIFA implemented the edition rotation criterion to ensure that the same continent could not host two World Cups in eight years. This rule meant that North and Central American countries could not aim for the 2034 edition. USA, Canada and Mexico will host in 2026.
With this rule on the table, Saudi Arabia had to cancel its 2030 targets due to its neighbor Qatar hosting the 2022 World Cup. In short, the 2030 World Cup was only open to European, South American and African countries. and Oceania. But Oceania practically does not count because Australia is a member of the Asian confederation For three decades the rest of the oceanic countries have not had the capacity to organize a World Cup on their own.
Then came FIFA’s masterful move. One month ago, the organization chaired by Gianni Infantino Announced that the 2030 World Cup will be held Spain, Portugal and Moroccowith the opening matches Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay. So, three different continents will host this edition, and three of them will be automatically eliminated from the race by 2034.
Conmebol’s strange stance
In this sense, the suitability of Conmebol (South American confederation) for this pressure is remarkable. Agreed to play three opening matches in exchange for not holding a World Cup until at least 2038It will be 24 years since Brazil 2014. In fact, they couldn’t hold it until 2042, but under current rules only North and Central America and Oceania can host the 2038 edition, and neither of those two (except the US), Canada and Mexico (which will host in 2026) appear to have the capacity to do so .
It looks like FIFA’s move is to keep the cards open, because The organization itself invited countries from Asia and Oceania There are a number of countries in the Asian confederation that have the capacity, individually or individually, to organize a World Cup, to submit their candidacy for the 2034 World Cup, and although Oceania is, as written, effectively out of the equation. in alliance with others: Japan, Australia, Indonesia, South Korea, China…
The little nuance that turns the salute to Saudi Arabia into a real golden runway is FIFA’s deadline for the submission of candidates. The governing body of world football has decided to combine the 2030 and 2034 rounds without notice, forcing anyone wishing to host the latter to complete all requirements before Tuesday 31 October. Only a few days left until the World Cup, which will be held after 11 years.
Indonesia’s sudden return
Saudi Arabia, which was advancing its work towards 2030 (he resigned in June, did he have any information?) had everything ready. Australia was another country aiming to compete for the 2034 event and tried to move with the imposed speed to put forward another candidacy. He tried to form an alliance with Indonesia, which was positive about the project, but the Asian country resigned a day before the Foreign Minister was to meet with his Saudi counterpart in Riyadh and pledged his country’s support for this candidacy. It seems like too much of a coincidence.
This Tuesday morning, Australia officially announced that it has abandoned its bid to host the 2034 World Cup and is positioning itself to host the second one in 2029. FIFA Club World CupThe 32-team format will launch in the US in 2025. In the afternoon, FIFA confirmed only that the Saudi dictatorship had sent a “statement of intent”.
The upshot of all this is that Saudi Arabia is de facto the unofficial host of the 2034 World Cup as of this Wednesday, and FIFA does not have to conduct any selection process that would ease international pressure to reject the Saudi candidacy. Just like the troubles Qatar suffered during the 2022 election process, the corruption investigation is now ongoing.
Everything is attached and well connected, with the necessary appearance of neatness that does not embarrass the title. Almost no one who doesn’t look closely notices this. FIFA has once again sold itself out to a flood of millionaires from a country that tramples Human Rights. Let the ball roll. This seems to justify everything.