Iraq soccer federation president congratulates Saudi Arabia on 2034 World Cup bid

BAGHDAD — Iraq’s Soccer Federation President Adnan Darjal extended congratulations to his Saudi counterpart, Yasser Al-Misehal, during a phone call Wednesday evening, following Saudi Arabia’s successful bid to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup.

FIFA has officially confirmed Saudi Arabia as the host nation for the 2034 FIFA World Cup. The decision was made during an online meeting of over 200 FIFA member federations, where the Saudi bid was unanimously acclaimed despite human rights concerns. Saudi Arabia’s bid was the only one submitted for 2034.

Darjal expressed pride in Saudi Arabia’s achievement, describing it as “a deserved victory”. He stated that Iraq’s soccer federation is ready to provide all possible support to ensure the tournament’s success, emphasizing that the event’s success will be a triumph not only for Saudi Arabia but for the entire Arab world.

The Saudi proposal includes plans for 15 stadiums across five cities, with significant investments in infrastructure as part of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Vision 2030 initiative.

“We are proud of the proposal submitted by the Kingdom, which earned the highest evaluations. This ensures that the tournament will be extraordinary and outstanding in every aspect,” Darjal was quoted to say in statement from Iraq’s soccer Federation.

The 2034 World Cup in Saudi Arabia will follow the 2030 tournament, which is set to be co-hosted by Spain, Portugal, and Morocco, with additional matches in Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay to commemorate the centenary of the first World Cup.