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Saudi Arabia's 2034 FIFA World Cup Bid Conference Highlights Key Aspects of the Landmark Event 

Saudi Arabia is experiencing a historic moment as it prepares to host the largest edition of the World Cup ever held in a single country. (SPA)
Saudi Arabia is experiencing a historic moment as it prepares to host the largest edition of the World Cup ever held in a single country. (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia's 2034 FIFA World Cup Bid Conference Highlights Key Aspects of the Landmark Event 

Saudi Arabia is experiencing a historic moment as it prepares to host the largest edition of the World Cup ever held in a single country. (SPA)
Saudi Arabia is experiencing a historic moment as it prepares to host the largest edition of the World Cup ever held in a single country. (SPA)

Saudi Football Federation (SAFF) president Yasser Al-Misehal stressed on Wednesday that Saudi Arabia's bid to host the FIFA World Cup 2034 has received unprecedented historical support from over 140 countries, reflecting the significant confidence of the international community to host the World Cup.

He noted that Saudi Arabia is experiencing a historic moment as it prepares to host the largest edition of the World Cup ever held in a single country.

"There is complete synergy and coordination among all government sectors to ensure the success of our bid to host this global event. We will deliver the best edition in the history of the World Cup on Saudi soil in 2034," he said in Riyadh at the official news conference on the Saudi bid.

A FIFA team will soon visit the host cities as part of the bid evaluation process. (SPA)

Saudi Vision 2030 has driven significant development and opened the doors for the world to see Saudi Arabia, he added, noting: "The World Cup is a grand dream for the entire Saudi community."

Al-Misehal expressed his gratitude and appreciation to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud for his support of all sectors in general and sports in particular.

He also thanked Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, for his contributions to Saudi sports and his endorsement of the World Cup 2034 bid.

He acknowledged the support of Minister of Sport Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki bin Faisal throughout the journey to submit the bid.

He highlighted the new sports stadiums that will be used for the event and that will benefit future generations. The AFC Asian Cup 2027 in the Kingdom will provide an opportunity to test some of these stadiums.

The opening and final matches of the World Cup will be held in the capital, Riyadh. (SPA)

Efforts are ongoing to prepare a highly capable national team to represent the Kingdom at the 2034 World Cup, he went on to say.

Meanwhile, head of the bid committee at the SAFF Hammad Al-Balawi said that by hosting the World Cup, the Kingdom will be the first country to organize the tournament alone in its new format.

The 10-year journey has already started, he remarked.

The bid enjoys unlimited support from the wise leadership, he continued, saying that hosting the World Cup will create numerous job opportunities for the Saudi people. Eighty percent of Saudis are sports enthusiasts in general, and football fans in particular.

The opening and final matches of the World Cup will be held in the capital, Riyadh, he noted.

The news conference featured a visual presentation of Saudi Arabia's bid, highlighting the five host cities and 15 world-class stadiums. (SPA)

A FIFA team will soon visit the host cities as part of the bid evaluation process.

The news conference featured a visual presentation of Saudi Arabia's bid, highlighting the five host cities and 15 world-class stadiums, as well as plans for the railway network connectingthe Kingdom with Gulf countries.

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Murray to Coach Djokovic Through Australian Open

FILE - Serbia's Novak Djokovic, left, and Britain's Andy Murray holds their trophy after their final match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium, Sunday, June 5, 2016 in Paris. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant, File)
FILE - Serbia's Novak Djokovic, left, and Britain's Andy Murray holds their trophy after their final match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium, Sunday, June 5, 2016 in Paris. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant, File)
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Murray to Coach Djokovic Through Australian Open

FILE - Serbia's Novak Djokovic, left, and Britain's Andy Murray holds their trophy after their final match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium, Sunday, June 5, 2016 in Paris. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant, File)
FILE - Serbia's Novak Djokovic, left, and Britain's Andy Murray holds their trophy after their final match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium, Sunday, June 5, 2016 in Paris. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant, File)

The recently retired Andy Murray is going to team up with longtime rival Novak Djokovic as his coach, they both announced Saturday, with plans to prepare for — and work together through — the Australian Open in January.
It was a stunning bit of news as tennis moves toward its offseason, a pairing of two of the most successful and popular players in the sport, both of whom are sometimes referred to as members of a so-called Big Four that also included Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.
Djokovic is a 24-time Grand Slam champion who has spent more weeks at No. 1 than any other player in tennis history. Murray won three major trophies and two Olympic singles gold medals and finished 2016 atop the ATP rankings. He ended his playing career after the Paris Summer Games in August.
Both men are 37 and were born a week apart in May 1987. They started facing each other as juniors and wound up meeting 36 times as professionals, with Djokovic holding a 25-11 advantage.
“We played each other since we were boys — 25 years of being rivals, of pushing each other beyond our limits. We had some of the most epic battles in our sport. They called us game-changers, risk-takers, history-makers,” Djokovic posted on social media over photos and videos from some of their matches. “I thought our story may be over. Turns out, it has one final chapter. It’s time for one of my toughest opponents to step into my corner. Welcome on board, Coach — Andy Murray.”
Djokovic's 2024 season is over, and it was not up to his usual, high standards. He didn't win a Grand Slam trophy; his only title, though, was meaningful to him: a gold medal for Serbia in singles at the Summer Games.
Djokovic has been without a full-time coach since splitting in March from Goran Ivanisevic.
“I’m going to be joining Novak’s team in the offseason, helping him to prepare for the Australian Open," The Associated Press quoted Murray as saying in a statement released by his management team. "I’m really excited for it and looking forward to spending time on the same side of the net as Novak for a change, helping him to achieve his goals.”
Their head-to-head series on tour includes an 11-8 lead for Djokovic in finals, and 8-2 at Grand Slam tournaments.
Djokovic beat Murray four times in the Australian Open final alone — in 2011, 2013, 2015 and 2016.
Two of the most important victories of Murray's career came with Djokovic on the other side of the net. One was in the 2012 US Open final, when Murray claimed his first Grand Slam title. The other was in the 2013 Wimbledon final, when Murray became the first British man in 77 years to win the singles championship at the All England Club.
Next year's Australian Open starts on Jan. 12.