FIFA inspection praises Saudi Arabia bid to host 2034 World Cup ahead of Dec. 11 decision
FILE - Saudi Arabia Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, left, and FIFA President Gianni Infantino, stand for the anthem prior to the match between Russia and Saudi Arabia which opened the 2018 soccer World Cup at the Luzhniki stadium in Moscow, Russia, on June 14, 2018. (Alexei Nikolsky, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP, File)[ASSOCIATED PRESS/Alexei Nikolsky]
GENEVA (AP) — FIFA has approved the quality of Saudi Arabia’s bid to host the 2034 World Cup in a 110-page evaluation that noted higher risks related to human rights in the oil-rich kingdom. FIFA member federations are set to pick Saudi by acclamation at an online meeting on Dec. 11. They will also pick a Spain-Portugal-Morocco co-host bid for the 2030 edition. They are the only candidates. FIFA’s in-house inspection team noted Saudi Arabia must invest “significant effort and time” to fulfill promises for the tournament that comply with international standards. FIFA also scored Saudi Arabia as “medium risk” for huge construction projects for stadiums and hotels.
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FILE - A general views shows the King Abdullah sports city stadium, in Jiddah, Saudi Arabia, Saturday, Jan. 11, 2020, on the eve of the Spanish Super Cup Final soccer match between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar, File)
Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS/Hassan Ammar