As the International Football Association (FIFA) officially announced the hosting rights for the 2030 World Cup, another battle for the right to host the 2034 World Cup has quietly begun. According to the FIFA, the 2034 World Cup will likely be staged in Asia or Oceania. Any willing country must submit a letter of intent to bid by October 31st. According to domestic media reports, a number of countries have already expressed their intention to bid, however, China has yet to make a clear statement.
The 2030 World Cup will be held in six countries in South America, Europe and Africa at the same time, while 2034 is expected to land in Asia or Oceania. FA members in both Asia and Oceania are eligible to submit bids, and FIFA plans to hold a vote in 2027 to finally reveal the hosting rights.
As a matter of fact, the return of the 2034 World Cup to Asia or Oceania has already been widely expected by the industry, and interested countries have long started to prepare for the bid. For example, Saudi Arabia, which has been expanding its army in a big way recently, has already taken the lead in announcing its bid to host the tournament. If successful, the tournament may also follow the model of the Qatar World Cup, which will be held in the winter. Other countries interested in bidding include Australia and New Zealand, which just hosted the Women's World Cup, as well as Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam, four Southeast Asian countries that are bidding together.
