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Saudi Arabia Officially Submits Bid to Host the FIFA World Cup 2034

Saudi Arabia submitted on Monday its official bid to FIFA to host the World Cup 2034. (SPA)
Saudi Arabia submitted on Monday its official bid to FIFA to host the World Cup 2034. (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia Officially Submits Bid to Host the FIFA World Cup 2034

Saudi Arabia submitted on Monday its official bid to FIFA to host the World Cup 2034. (SPA)
Saudi Arabia submitted on Monday its official bid to FIFA to host the World Cup 2034. (SPA)

Saudi Arabia submitted on Monday its official bid to FIFA to host the FIFA World Cup 2034 at a ceremony hosted by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) in Paris, France.

The bid book was submitted by an official delegation led by Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki bin Faisal Minister of Sport and President of the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee, and Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) President, Yasser Al-Misehal, and two young talents from the regional training centers affiliated with SAFF.

The Saudi bid to host the World Cup 2034 is a significant milestone, made possible thanks to the empowerment by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and the unwavering support provided by Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister. The bid reflects the Kingdom’s continuous efforts to achieve the sports objectives of Vision 2030 and the ambitions and aspirations of the Saudi people.

Prince Abdulaziz said: “I extend my sincerest gratitude to our visionary leadership that has enabled us to reach this milestone in the history of Saudi sports. I also express my profound thanks to the Crown Prince and Prime Minister for his unwavering support for the development of the sports sector.”

“Saudi Arabia’s bid to host the World Cup 2034 is a bid for the future. The Kingdom aims to host the most important event in the world of football, which would reaffirm its influential position on the global stage across various fields, including sports,” he added.

“The involvement of two children submitting the bid embodies the significant contributions of the youth of this great nation; youth are our largest population segment. With their passion and outstanding talent in various fields, including football, our youth are the key to achieving the Kingdom's future ambitions,” he stressed.

“Their involvement sends a powerful message, reflecting the dreams and aspirations of our youth to participate in a World Cup on our home soil, to help organize the tournament, or to support the Kingdom's efforts in welcoming the world.”

Al-Misehal said: “Our bid campaign marks our firm commitment to hosting the world’s greatest football tournament, and a deep desire to advance sport and the quality of life for our people. Our country’s love of football is rooted in history, and we want to showcase to FIFA how we will harness this enthusiasm not just in 2034 – but for generations to come.”

“We want to create an enduring legacy to help push Saudi Arabia’s transformation to new heights,” he added.

Including the two young talents as part of the official Saudi delegation to submit the bid book is an initiative led by SAFF. This aligns with the projected growth of Saudi football over the next ten years and reflects the aspirations and ambitions of the Saudi people, as well as their passion for hosting an exceptional edition of the World Cup.

The submission of the bid book to FIFA marks the third stage in the official bid process to secure hosting rights for the 2034 tournament. Saudi Arabia, through SAFF, announced its intention to bid for the World Cup 2034 on October 4, 2023, as the sole nation in the race to host this edition of the global sporting event.

This was followed by Saudi Arabia’s official bid campaign reveal. The current submission of the bid book underscores the Kingdom's commitment and determination to host the event.

The next stages will include official visits by FIFA and a comprehensive evaluation of the bid, leading up to the selection of the host nation for the World Cup 2034 on December 11.

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Sports

WTA Players Divided on Five-Set Matches Proposal at Grand Slams

Iga Swiatek of Poland fields questions on media day during the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 03, 2026 in Indian Wells, California. (Getty Images/AFP)
Iga Swiatek of Poland fields questions on media day during the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 03, 2026 in Indian Wells, California. (Getty Images/AFP)
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WTA Players Divided on Five-Set Matches Proposal at Grand Slams

Iga Swiatek of Poland fields questions on media day during the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 03, 2026 in Indian Wells, California. (Getty Images/AFP)
Iga Swiatek of Poland fields questions on media day during the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 03, 2026 in Indian Wells, California. (Getty Images/AFP)

Players on the WTA Tour offered a range of opinions on Tuesday on the idea of women's matches becoming best-of-five sets from the quarter-finals onward at Grand Slam events, a concept backed by newly named USTA CEO Craig Tiley.

Women's tennis consists of best-of-three set matches, while men's matches at Grand Slam events are best-of-five.

Tiley, the longtime head of the Australian Open renowned for championing innovation in the sport, has argued that research shows interest grows as a match goes on.

Iga Swiatek, who has won six majors, ‌did not ‌understand why the sport would want to make matches ‌longer ⁠in an era ⁠of ever-shrinking attention spans.

"It's a weird approach in the world where everything is becoming faster," she told reporters at Indian Wells.

"So I don't know if the audience honestly would like that."

She also voiced concerns that there could be a dip in quality as players get tired.

"I don't know if we would be able to keep the quality for five sets. Men are more physically strong and they ⁠can handle it better," she added.

"Also, we have never ‌practiced in a way to prepare for ‌that, so we would need to change our whole calendar, because the Grand Slams would ‌be so tough that I don't think we would have time to ‌prepare for any other tournaments."

Australian Open champion Elena Rybakina echoed Swiatek's concerns.

"You start in one format, and then it gets longer, so mentally, to be ready to play so many sets if it goes to that point, I think it's not easy," ‌she said.

"It's a tricky topic, and me, as a player, I would say I wouldn't want to play three ⁠out of five, ⁠to be honest."

Other players said the change would play to their strengths.

"It probably would favor me because I'm physically up there with the best," said Coco Gauff, the winner of three majors.

"But I probably wouldn't want to see that happen, and if it were to happen, I would prefer it to be the whole tournament, not just the quarters.

"I think changing the format in the middle of the tournament defeats the purpose of the playing field."

Power hitter Aryna Sabalenka enthusiastically backed the concept.

"Yeah, let's do that," said the world number one, who has won four Grand Slam events.

"I feel like I would have probably more Grand Slams. I feel like physically I'm really strong, and I'm pretty confident that my body can handle that. So let's do it."

Sports

Alcaraz Ready to Extend Unbeaten Run at Indian Wells

Carlos Alcaraz of Spain fields questions on media day during the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 03, 2026 in Indian Wells, California. (Getty Images/AFP)
Carlos Alcaraz of Spain fields questions on media day during the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 03, 2026 in Indian Wells, California. (Getty Images/AFP)
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Alcaraz Ready to Extend Unbeaten Run at Indian Wells

Carlos Alcaraz of Spain fields questions on media day during the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 03, 2026 in Indian Wells, California. (Getty Images/AFP)
Carlos Alcaraz of Spain fields questions on media day during the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 03, 2026 in Indian Wells, California. (Getty Images/AFP)

World number one Carlos Alcaraz believes controlling his emotions has been the secret of his unbeaten start to 2026 as he chases a third title of the year at Indian Wells.

The 22-year-old Spanish star made history in Melbourne last month with victory at the Australian Open, becoming the youngest man ever to complete a career Grand Slam.

He followed that up by pocketing the Qatar Open and arrives in California on the back of 12 straight wins since the turn of the year.

Alcaraz, who is targeting a third Indian Wells title after wins in 2023 and 2024, says he is not dwelling on Novak Djokovic's record 41-match winning streak from 2011.

"Obviously I know that 41, Novak holds the record," Alcaraz told reporters on Tuesday. "You don't realize how difficult it is until you're chasing that.

"When you're on 12 wins, it's like (winning) four or five more tournaments, the biggest tournaments in the world. You realize...how impressive it is."

Alcaraz, who has already amassed seven Grand Slam titles, puts his recent success down to learning to keep his temperament in check.

"I think on the court I just I control my emotions even better," Alcaraz said.

"I would say that was the key of, you know, the good level of tennis that I have been playing lately...I just control myself, and in a calm place I can find the solutions and I can go through.

"When I was getting mad or when I was playing bad or whatever, I just found the right way again, because I was calm."

Sports

Piastri Cool on Prospects of Breakthrough Win at Australian Grand Prix

Formula One F1 - Pre-Season Testing - Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir, Bahrain - February 20, 2026 McLaren's Oscar Piastri during the pre season testing. (Reuters)
Formula One F1 - Pre-Season Testing - Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir, Bahrain - February 20, 2026 McLaren's Oscar Piastri during the pre season testing. (Reuters)
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Piastri Cool on Prospects of Breakthrough Win at Australian Grand Prix

Formula One F1 - Pre-Season Testing - Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir, Bahrain - February 20, 2026 McLaren's Oscar Piastri during the pre season testing. (Reuters)
Formula One F1 - Pre-Season Testing - Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir, Bahrain - February 20, 2026 McLaren's Oscar Piastri during the pre season testing. (Reuters)

Oscar Piastri has moved to cool expectations of a drought-breaking win at his home Australian Grand Prix, insisting McLaren are not the dominant force that arrived at Albert Park 12 months ago.

After seven race wins last season and a third-placing in the drivers championship, Piastri has generated huge buzz in his hometown Melbourne and is expected to draw record crowds for his bid to become the first home winner since the race joined Formula One in 1985.

McLaren qualified both cars at the front of the grid last year ‌and Lando Norris ‌won the season-opener on a wet track, but Piastri ‌said ⁠he had "no idea" ⁠whether he could win this year as the team grapples with F1's biggest technical overhaul in decades.

"Based off testing, we seem like we’re in the mix at the front," he said.

"I certainly wouldn't be saying that we're favorite to be winning. The picture doesn't look quite as positive for us at the moment as it did 12 months ago.

"We're in the mix, but we need to ⁠find a bit more."

Piastri led last year's championship by ‌34 points before a mid-season slump opened ‌the door for British teammate Norris to claim his maiden title.

He said the disappointment of ‌missing out had faded and he had little time to dwell on ‌the past due to the short off-season and the need to get up to speed with the technical changes.

He also said he felt no extra burden to perform at his home race, a year after finishing ninth following a skid into grass.

"Obviously ‌last year's race didn't end how I wanted, but you know, there's no extra pressure to try and make ⁠up for that ⁠or anything," he said.

"We've got enough challenges to not be worrying about that."

Defending champion Norris may again loom as his toughest adversary, even with pre-season buzz surrounding Mercedes and Ferrari following their positive winter testing.

McLaren gave equal treatment to Piastri and Norris last year, although there were controversies involving the application of the team's so-called 'Papaya Rules'.

One involved the Australian letting Norris past after a botched pitstop by the team at Monza.

Piastri said any issues from last season had been dealt with internally and the team had moved on.

"We're not going to be swapping each other around for no reason (when racing)," he said.

"Again, if there's any issues or tense moments that arise, then we'll deal with it as a team, as we do and try to make some progress."