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Crown Prince Endorses Saudi Arabia’s Final Preparations ahead of Bid Books Submission for FIFA World Cup 2034

Crown Prince endorses Saudi Arabia’s final preparations ahead of bid books submission for FIFA World Cup 2034. (SPA)
Crown Prince endorses Saudi Arabia’s final preparations ahead of bid books submission for FIFA World Cup 2034. (SPA)
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Crown Prince Endorses Saudi Arabia’s Final Preparations ahead of Bid Books Submission for FIFA World Cup 2034

Crown Prince endorses Saudi Arabia’s final preparations ahead of bid books submission for FIFA World Cup 2034. (SPA)
Crown Prince endorses Saudi Arabia’s final preparations ahead of bid books submission for FIFA World Cup 2034. (SPA)

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, has endorsed Saudi Arabia’s bid to host the FIFA World Cup 2034 tournament.
The endorsement comes following the conclusion of the bid’s detailed requirements ahead of the bid book submission to FIFA in the French capital, Paris, through a delegation led by Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki bin Faisal Al Saud, Minister of Sport and President of the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee, and President of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) Yasser Al Misehal.
Marking this significant milestone, Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki bin Faisal Al Saud expressed his sincere appreciation and gratitude to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince for their support and guidance offered to the vital sport sector. Thanks to this support, the Kingdom has become a global home of sports during a time when the country is experiencing unprecedented growth and transformation, he added.
“We are committed to hosting an exceptional edition of the FIFA World CupTM set to feature 48 teams in a single country for the first time in the history of the competition. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince’s direct supervision of Saudi Arabia's ambitions of hosting this iconic global football event showcases his commitment to elevating the future of Saudi sport, in line with Vision 2030, and help nurture a generation of athletes capable of competing at the highest global stage”, said Prince Faisla.
“We will continue to showcase to the world our nation’s transformation across all sectors, what our youthful and vibrant population can offer and our massive capabilities of hosting the world’s biggest sporting events”, he added.
The official bid book submission will take place in a ceremony held by FIFA in Paris. The Saudi delegation will be led by Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki bin Faisal Al Saud and Yasser Al Misehal, alongside two children from the SAFF youth regional training centers.
The participation of the two children came as part of an initiative by the Saudi Arabian Football Federation, symbolizing the ambitions of Saudi Arabia’s young generation to host the world’s greatest football event.
The official bid book forms part of the FIFA World Cup 2034TM bid journey, which commenced on 4 October 2023 when Saudi Arabia, via the Saudi Arabian Football Federation, announced its intention to bid. It was then followed by the Saudi Arabian Football Federation submitting its official letter of intent to FIFA, before the bid brand identity was revealed under the slogan ‘Growing. Together.’
The bid period is set to conclude in December later this year when FIFA officially announces the host nation of the FIFA World Cup 2034 TM during a General Assembly meeting.

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Sports

PSG Retakes Ligue 1 Lead after Teenager Nets 1st Goal in Rout at Nice

PSG's Pedro Fernandez, center, celebrates after scoring his side's third goal during the French League One soccer match between Nice and Paris Saint-Germain in Nice, France, Saturday, March 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Philippe Magoni)
PSG's Pedro Fernandez, center, celebrates after scoring his side's third goal during the French League One soccer match between Nice and Paris Saint-Germain in Nice, France, Saturday, March 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Philippe Magoni)
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PSG Retakes Ligue 1 Lead after Teenager Nets 1st Goal in Rout at Nice

PSG's Pedro Fernandez, center, celebrates after scoring his side's third goal during the French League One soccer match between Nice and Paris Saint-Germain in Nice, France, Saturday, March 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Philippe Magoni)
PSG's Pedro Fernandez, center, celebrates after scoring his side's third goal during the French League One soccer match between Nice and Paris Saint-Germain in Nice, France, Saturday, March 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Philippe Magoni)

Dro Fernández scored his first goal for Paris Saint-Germain as it won at struggling Nice 4-0 and reclaimed top spot in Ligue 1 on Saturday.

The 18-year-old midfielder joined from Barcelona in January and grabbed his side's third goal after being neatly set up by Ousmane Dembélé in the 81st minute.

PSG moved one point above Lens, which crushed Angers 5-1 on Friday.

Defending champion PSG has played one game less and the sides meet on April 11 in Lens in what could be a title decider.

Nice competed evenly until a contentious handball decision gave PSG a penalty late in the first half. Désiré Doué's shot was off target and lightly brushed the arm of Nice midfielder Morgan Sanson, who was turning his back and unsighted.

The referee awarded a penalty following a video review and left back Nuno Mendes scored, The Associated Press reported.

Mendes then set up Doué in the 49th with a cross and, after Nice midfielder Youssouf Ndayishimiye was sent off on the hour, PSG added late goals from Fernández and right back Warren Zaïre-Emery.

Disability awareness Substitute Emersonn scored a late solo goal to give Toulouse a 1-0 home win against Lorient.

The Brazilian forward cut inside the penalty area, beat two defenders and fired in off the underside of the crossbar. The win moved Toulouse up to ninth place.

Toulouse goalkeeper Guillaume Restes needed brief treatment in stoppage time after receiving a powerful shot from Arsène Kouassi full in the face. He was able to continue.

Emersonn almost scored a second goal with another solo effort deep into added time.

Players from both sides had pictograms of different disabilities on their jerseys instead of their names as part of a disability awareness campaign aimed at providing better facilities in soccer stadiums for those with disabilities.

The game featured an accessible shuttle service; an audio description service; visual help devices, and spaces specifically designed for sensory and autistic disability. There were also introductory sessions about blind soccer and wheelchair rugby, which both featured at the Paralympic Games in Paris in 2024.

Easier with 10 players Auxerre goalkeeper Donovan Léon was sent off after six minutes but it still secured a 3-0 home win over Brest. He was shown a red card for impeding Rémy Labeau-Lascary.

American-born defender Bryan Okoh scored twice with powerful headers and Cameroon forward Danny Namaso added the third midway through the second half with a fine run and shot.

Auxerre remained in 16th place — which is the promotion-relegation playoff with the side finishing third in Ligue 2 — but closed the gap on 15th-placed Nice to five points.

Sports

Champions League Holders Pyramids and Record Winners Al Ahly Stunned in Quarters

Al Ahly players pose for a photograph prior to their CAF Champions League Quarter first leg match between ES Tunis and Al Ahly at Rades stadium in Tunis,Tunisia, 15 March 2026. EPA/MOHAMED MESSARA
Al Ahly players pose for a photograph prior to their CAF Champions League Quarter first leg match between ES Tunis and Al Ahly at Rades stadium in Tunis,Tunisia, 15 March 2026. EPA/MOHAMED MESSARA
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Champions League Holders Pyramids and Record Winners Al Ahly Stunned in Quarters

Al Ahly players pose for a photograph prior to their CAF Champions League Quarter first leg match between ES Tunis and Al Ahly at Rades stadium in Tunis,Tunisia, 15 March 2026. EPA/MOHAMED MESSARA
Al Ahly players pose for a photograph prior to their CAF Champions League Quarter first leg match between ES Tunis and Al Ahly at Rades stadium in Tunis,Tunisia, 15 March 2026. EPA/MOHAMED MESSARA

Holders Pyramids and record champions Al Ahly both crashed out of the African Champions League quarter-finals on Saturday, losing to Morocco's Royal Armed Forces and Tunisian Esperance respectively on a bleak night for Egyptian soccer.

Pyramids' 3-2 aggregate loss ended their title defense despite a 1-1 draw in the first leg in Rabat. The Egyptians won their first African Champions League crown last June, beating South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns, Reuters reported.

Rida Slim put the visitors ahead in the ninth minute at Cairo's 30 June Stadium before Mohamed Rabie ⁠Hrimat doubled the ⁠lead with a 54th-minute header. Fiston Mayele halved the deficit in the 62nd minute but the Egyptians could not find the equaliser that would have sent the tie straight to penalties.

"This is a historic win and a historic qualification for the club," forward Youssef El Fahli said. "We ⁠have the determination to fight for the title this season and, God willing, we'll bring home the club's second continental crown."

Royal Armed Forces will face fellow Moroccans Renaissance Berkane or Sudan's Al-Hilal in the semi-finals, hoping to move a step closer to a second continental crown after winning the African Cup of Champions Clubs in 1985 when they beat AS Bilima (now AS Dragons) of then Zaire, now Democratic Republic of Congo.

Al Ahly, the record 12-times African champions, took ⁠a 10th-minute ⁠lead through Mahmoud Trezeguet but Esperance levelled in the 68th minute when Florian Danho drove in from outside the box past goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir.

The Tunisian champions went ahead in the 78th when Mohamed Amine Tougai converted a penalty. Although Ahly drew level at 2-2 in the 84th minute via an own goal by Hamza Jelassi from a Marwan Othman header, Jelassi redeemed himself with a 94-minute winner from a Youssef Msakni corner to complete a second-leg 3-2 victory for a 4-2 win on aggregate.

Esperance will face Mamelodi Sundowns or Mali's Stade Malien in the semi-finals.

Sports

Osaka Weighs Clay Court Season, Motherhood 'Dilemma'

Mar 21, 2026; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Naomi Osaka (JPN) walks off the court after her match against Talia Gibson (AUS) (not pictured) on day five of the 2026 Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
Mar 21, 2026; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Naomi Osaka (JPN) walks off the court after her match against Talia Gibson (AUS) (not pictured) on day five of the 2026 Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
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Osaka Weighs Clay Court Season, Motherhood 'Dilemma'

Mar 21, 2026; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Naomi Osaka (JPN) walks off the court after her match against Talia Gibson (AUS) (not pictured) on day five of the 2026 Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
Mar 21, 2026; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Naomi Osaka (JPN) walks off the court after her match against Talia Gibson (AUS) (not pictured) on day five of the 2026 Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

Former world number one Naomi Osaka said she is considering how best to balance her tennis schedule with motherhood after a 7-5 6-4 loss to Australia’s Talia Gibson in her opening match on Saturday.

Osaka returned to the tour in 2024 after a 15-month break following the birth of her daughter and reached the US Open semi-finals last year. She withdrew ahead of her scheduled third-round match at the ⁠Australian Open in ⁠January due to an abdominal injury, Reuters reported.

The four-time Grand Slam champion lost to world number one Aryna Sabalenka in the Indian Wells pre-quarterfinals this month before another early exit in Miami.

Asked about her plans for the clay season, Osaka ⁠said she is weighing the demands of the tour with the time she wants to spend at home.

"I feel like this also is a dilemma for me," Osaka told reporters.

"For me, my daughter is very important, and I want to be a mom. I want to be the best mom I can, but sometimes I feel like I know what I have to ⁠do ⁠to become a really good player, and it's very difficult.

"Because for me, I want to win titles and I want to be the best player I can, but if I have to sacrifice having a lot of time with my daughter, I’d rather not do it.

"I'm not going to play Charleston. I hope I can play Madrid, Rome and then, obviously, the French Open."

Gibson, 21, will play Iva Jovic in the next round on Sunday.