Share this @internewscast.com

Saudi Arabia looks set to be the host of the 2034 World Cup after the only other country to have shown an interest in hosting — Australia — made a last-minute decision not to bid.

“We have reached the conclusion not to do so for the 2034 competition,” a statement from Football Australia said Tuesday, just hours before FIFA’s deadline for declarations of interest.

It puts Saudi Arabia on track to host the global soccer tournament a decade from now — a move that is likely to be seen as highly controversial.

It would also make it only the second Arab Gulf country to ever host the World Cup, after Qatar did so in 2022.

The selection of Qatar as host angered many human rights activists, who accused the state of abusing migrant workers, endangering the lives of the LGBT community and stifling free speech. Qatar pushed back by insisting that everyone was welcome in the country and denying reports that thousands of workers had died building the stadiums, but said that it was entitled to set its own laws.

Some fans were also frustrated at the location, as the World Cup took place in the winter due to the Gulf region’s soaring summer temperatures.

The 2030 FIFA World Cup, meanwhile, will be hosted by Morocco, Spain and Portugal, with the three opening matches to be played in South America.

Saudi Arabia is criticized for its well-documented human rights violations, abuses of women’s rights and criminalization of homosexuality. Amnesty International reported that Saudi Arabia in 2022 oversaw the highest number of yearly executions in 30 years, with 196 people killed.

In response to an interview question about the kingdom’s human rights abuses, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said that there are “bad laws” in the country he does “not like,” but that he cannot interfere with the judiciary. Saudi observers and rights activists have rejected that assertion.

The kingdom’s multibillion-dollar investment into sports and international sports events of the last few years — part of its Vision 2030 project aimed at diversifying its economy away from oil — has been described as “sportswashing” by human rights groups. To that, the Saudi leader said he doesn’t care, and is happy to continue “sportswashing” if it increases his country’s GDP.

Between early 2021 and June of 2023, the kingdom spent $6.1 billion on sports investments, an analysis by the Guardian found.

Saudi Arabia has in recent years made a series of high-profile sports acquisitions, including recruiting soccer legends Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema to its local teams with contracts worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

Other recent big-name transfers include Chelsea’s N’Golo Kante and Kalidou Koulibaly, Lyon’s Moussa Dembele, and Manchester City’s Riyad Mahrez.

The huge investments have gone beyond soccer and include boxing, golf, auto racing and more. In June, news of a surprise merger between Saudi Arabia’s upstart LIV Golf tournament and the American PGA Tour sent shockwaves through the world of sports and angered many commentators, athletes, fans and even some U.S. lawmakers.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
State attorneys general sue Trump administration for canceled solar program funding

State Attorneys General Challenge Trump Administration Over Solar Program Funding Cuts

On Thursday, more than a dozen state attorneys general filed a lawsuit…
Florida attorney general identifies wrongful charges under halted immigration law

Florida Attorney General Initiates Legal Action Against California and Washington Over Commercial Driver’s Licenses for Undocumented Truck Drivers

An accident on Florida’s Turnpike involving a truck driver without proper documentation,…
ICE arrests illegal alien sworn in as suburban Chicago police officer: 'Pritzker's Illinois'

ICE Detains Undocumented Individual Serving as Suburban Chicago Police Officer

In a significant development, immigration officials have detained an Illinois police officer…
Massachusetts woman charged with threatening to kill federal agents while interfering with immigration arrest

Massachusetts Woman Faces Charges for Threatening Federal Agents Amid Immigration Arrest Chaos

A Massachusetts woman found herself in custody after purportedly making death threats…
Gov. JB Pritzker news: Governor calls meeting with retired military leaders, blames Trump for alleged militarization of Chicago

Governor JB Pritzker Engages Retired Military Leaders in Discussion on Chicago’s Militarization, Points to Trump’s Influence

In a significant move Thursday, Governor JB Pritzker convened with a group…
Zohran Mamdani offers up word salad on how he will pay for $10B in socialist freebies without new taxes

Zohran Mamdani Proposes Innovative Funding Strategy for $10B Socialist Initiatives Without Raising Taxes

Zohran Mamdani remained tight-lipped when questioned about funding his ambitious $10 billion…
Teen street musician jailed for leading anti-Putin song performance in St. Petersburg: report

Teen Street Musician Arrested for Performing Anti-Putin Song in St. Petersburg: Report

A teenage street performer has been incarcerated in St. Petersburg for leading…
Blue state governor vows 'zero tolerance' approach to street takeovers after violent attack on law enforcement

Governor Pledges Strict Crackdown on Street Takeovers Following Assault on Police

Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey has announced the issuance of over 232 civil…
Chinese USC grad student accused of drugging, raping multiple women

USC Graduate Student from China Charged with Alleged Drugging and Assault of Multiple Women

A Chinese doctoral student in the United States has been charged with…

Texas Detention Center Shooting: Two Suspects Charged with Terrorism Offenses

DALLAS (AP) — A pair of individuals apprehended in connection with a…
Video shows gunman ‘lying in wait’ to ambush businessman outside estate as police hunt shooter: prosecutor

Prosecutor Highlights Chilling Footage of Gunman Ambushing Businessman Outside Estate as Police Intensify Search for Suspect

Macomb County, Michigan, is currently on high alert as authorities intensify their…
44,000 NordicTrack rowing machines recalled after reports of fires

Massive Recall: NordicTrack Rowing Machines Pulled from Market Due to Fire Hazard Concerns

A widespread recall has been announced for tens of thousands of NordicTrack…