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Saudi Arabia Says Did Not Request to Host Football World Cup

Saudi Arabia has not submitted a request to host the FIFA World Cup. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Arabia has not submitted a request to host the FIFA World Cup. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Arabia Says Did Not Request to Host Football World Cup

Saudi Arabia has not submitted a request to host the FIFA World Cup. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Arabia has not submitted a request to host the FIFA World Cup. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The Saudi Ministry of Tourism reiterated on Wednesday that the Kingdom had not submitted an official request to host the FIFA World Cup.

In a tweet, it said Saudi Arabia is always keen on hosting major sports events as part of its efforts to promote sports and internal tourism in line with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.

Minister of Sports Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki al-Faisal had told CNN last week that his country had no intention at the moment to host the World Cup in 2030.

He added that the Kingdom was focused on bidding to host the 2026 Women's Asian Cup and the men’s Asian Cup 2027.

He said Saudi Arabia has already won the right to host the 2034 Asian Games and attention is now centered on preparing stadiums and infrastructure to host the event.

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France Coach Didier Deschamps Says He’ll Leave after 2026 World Cup

France's coach Didier Deschamps celebrates as they do a lap of honor during a ceremony to celebrate the victory of the 2018 World Cup at the end of the UEFA Nations League football match between France and Netherlands at the Stade de France stadium, in Saint-Denis, northern of Paris, on September 9, 2018. (AFP)
France's coach Didier Deschamps celebrates as they do a lap of honor during a ceremony to celebrate the victory of the 2018 World Cup at the end of the UEFA Nations League football match between France and Netherlands at the Stade de France stadium, in Saint-Denis, northern of Paris, on September 9, 2018. (AFP)
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France Coach Didier Deschamps Says He’ll Leave after 2026 World Cup

France's coach Didier Deschamps celebrates as they do a lap of honor during a ceremony to celebrate the victory of the 2018 World Cup at the end of the UEFA Nations League football match between France and Netherlands at the Stade de France stadium, in Saint-Denis, northern of Paris, on September 9, 2018. (AFP)
France's coach Didier Deschamps celebrates as they do a lap of honor during a ceremony to celebrate the victory of the 2018 World Cup at the end of the UEFA Nations League football match between France and Netherlands at the Stade de France stadium, in Saint-Denis, northern of Paris, on September 9, 2018. (AFP)

Didier Deschamps announced Wednesday that he won’t continue as France coach after the next World Cup.

The 56-year-old Deschamps said in an interview with broadcaster TF1 that he will leave when his contract expires in the summer of 2026.

“I’ve been here since 2012, I’m scheduled to be here until 2026, the next World Cup, but that’s where it’s going to end because it has to end at some point,” Deschamps said in excerpts of the interview to be aired later Wednesday.

“I did my time, with the same desire and the same passion to keep the French team at the highest level, but 2026 is all very well.”

Deschamps started in his role as a successor to Laurent Blanc and led France to victory at the 2018 World Cup, also reaching the final in 2022 and at the 2016 European Championship.

At the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, France reached the final and lost an epic title match to Argentina.

“I’m not here for the records,” Deschamps added. “The most important thing is that the France team remains at the top as it has been for many years.”

Europe will send 16 teams to the first 48-team World Cup, being co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico in the summer of 2026.

Deschamps did not elaborate on his future beyond the World Cup.

“There is a life afterwards,” he said. “I don’t know what it will be.”