31 Oct 2023 16:55:46
Wow, Saudi Arabia has just won the bid to host the FIFA World Cup in 2034. Somehow, there were no conuter-bids and Australia withdrew from the race last minute. A World Cup in Australia would have been fun; lots of Liverpool and Manuchester United fans out there.
It's logical to expect that the Arabian influence on football is here to stay, at least until 2034!

1.) 31 Oct 2023
31 Oct 2023 18:00:22
I can imagine the Saudi national team becoming a legitimate contender for winning the world cup by 2034.

Their domestic league will have tens if not hundreds of top players by then. And I would not be surprised if Saudi league teams start signing promising youngsters from academies around the world who are then given Saudi Nationality for representing the Saudi national team.

The world football map will be very different by 2034. It would all be artificially created, of course, but very different from what we are used to now.

2.) 31 Oct 2023
31 Oct 2023 19:00:35
OP and other posters. By show of hands, who did not see this coming?

3.) 31 Oct 2023
31 Oct 2023 19:08:29
Are they not getting v poor crowds in Saudi league at minute? Even with all the star signings.

4.) 31 Oct 2023
31 Oct 2023 19:59:32
Digger10, trust me on this one. The Saudis are sitting on trillions in oil money. They can literally pay for fans from anywhere in the world to pack the stadiums. Filling the stadiums will not be a problem, I promise you that.

5.) 31 Oct 2023
31 Oct 2023 20:29:53
@ olired. Filling the stadiums in a World Cup tournament won’t be a problem. Can’t see the powers that be paying fans to attend, no matter what they sitting on. It’s easy to pay players to go out there but even in ten years time I think they will still be struggling crowd wise ( domestically)

6.) 31 Oct 2023
31 Oct 2023 20:43:18
If Saudi don’t win it, I reckon their manager will be for the chop.

7.) 31 Oct 2023
31 Oct 2023 20:48:38
Saudi will join BRICS on Jan 1st 2024 as will 5 other countries, their currency will be backed by gold, next Jan will be a major swing away from the western system in place Currently.

Saudi will have the resources to put on an awesome WC, will the competitors? We will see.

8.) 31 Oct 2023
31 Oct 2023 22:21:05
Hanif005. Not sure how you think flooding your national league with foreign imports will suddenly turn your national team into a world class outfit? In fact, I’d say the opposite is more likely. You only need to look at the prem and what it’s done for the England national team.

Building a whole new sporting infrastructure and utilising it to develope a winning national team from the grassroots could take decades, not just 10yrs. Will no doubt be interesting to watch how they develop though.

9.) 31 Oct 2023
31 Oct 2023 22:30:33
I doubt it. top players do not make the national team of the country they play in, any better. Look how England have fared over the last 30 years. Arguably the best or a lot of the best players - won f-all.

10.) 31 Oct 2023
31 Oct 2023 22:32:13
The only surprise is they have to wait until 2034.