Saudi Arabia’s clear path to World Cup shows power of Fifa and Infantino

Saudi Arabia hosting the 2034 tournament has quickly become a certainty, even as the Gulf state’s wider ambitions remain unclear

FIFA President Gianni Infantino

The World Cup had not even finished in Qatar last winter before the question began to be asked: when would it be Saudi Arabia’s turn? Like a mist creeping in off the sea, from nowhere the conversation was suddenly ubiquitous and the outcome apparently inevitable. Now, not even a year later, we know the answer.

Saudi Arabia will host the Fifa men’s World Cup in 2034. Only the most unexpected or disastrous of circumstances will change that. Saudi Arabia, officially, has only ‘expressed an interest’ in being host to the 48-team tournament, but it stands in a field of one. It has the endorsement of the Asian Football Confederation and more than 100 Fifa member nations. Not insignificantly, it is also the apple of Gianni Infantino’s eye. The Fifa president was in Riyadh for the launch of an esports tournament last week, so great is his enthusiasm for sport in the country.