Saudi Arabia's leaders for the 2034 World Cup bid have promised a competition environment that will be free from discrimination.
As the sole bidder for the tournament, the Kingdom submitted its bid book to FIFA earlier this week, which publicly released on Wednesday evening.
The proposal includes plans for 15 stadiums across five cities, including the innovative NEOM city, but does not specify the tournament's timing in 2034.
Due to extreme summer temperatures, a winter schedule may be necessary, requiring cooperation with local leagues for a mid-season break.
Concerns about Saudi Arabia's human rights record, particularly regarding migrant workers and the LGBTQ+ community, are central to the scrutiny of the bid.
A human rights strategy document states: “We are committed to cultivating a competition environment free of discriminatory practices, and striving to eradicate discrimination based on race, ethnicity, gender, disability, or any other protected characteristic.”
Saudi Arabia's crown prince added: "We look forward to hosting an exceptional and unprecedented edition of the FIFA World Cup by harnessing our strengths and capabilities to bring joy to football fans around the world."
They also claim the tournament would be the largest held within one single country’s boundaries.
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The bid book for the 2030 World Cup was also released, which will mainly take place in Spain, Portugal, and Morocco, starting with three matches in South America before moving to Europe and North Africa.
If hosting requirements are met, both the 2030 and 2034 bids are expected to be approved at a virtual FIFA Congress on December 11.
