Brazilian soccer star Neymar (Al Hilal) has voiced his support for Saudi Arabia’s bid to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup, expressing strong confidence in the country’s ability to deliver a tournament unlike the other.
In an interview with Saudi Arabia’s World Cup bid committee on Tuesday morning, Neymar said, “If Saudi Arabia secures the hosting rights, I believe the 2034 World Cup has the potential to be the best in history.” Neymar went on to explain, “Everything in soccer is connected. Players will benefit from shorter travel times and fewer long-haul flights, making it easier to move between the stadium and their hotel, which helps them recover faster.”
The 2034 World Cup will be the first tournament to be hosted by a single country since FIFA expanded the competition to 48-team. Initially, Saudi Arabia, Australia, and Indonesia were all in the running to host the event. However, in October 2023, Indonesia withdrew after pledging support for Saudi Arabia’s bid, and Australia also dropped out, leaving Saudi Arabia as the sole contender. The country is expected to officially secure the hosting rights after FIFA’s Congress approves the bid next month.
Having joined Al-Hilal in 2023 and currently playing in Saudi Arabia’s professional football league, Neymar admitted that he was initially surprised by what he discovered in the Kingdom. “I have to admit, Saudi Arabia caught me off guard,” he said. “The reality here is very different from what people might think from the outside.” Neymar added, “Anyone who comes here will likely share a more positive perspective, just like I did,” and stressed, “It’s important for the world to learn more about Saudi Arabia’s culture.”
Neymar also expressed his optimism about the future of the Saudi Arabian national team, which would automatically qualify for the 2034 World Cup if the country wins the bid. “The performance and competitiveness of Saudi Arabian players have been improving year by year,” Neymar said. “By 2034, they will have an even stronger team.” He continued, “There’s still a long way to go and a lot of work to be done, but I believe they already have everything in place to be considered one of the top teams in the tournament in the next decade.”