Australia along with its neighbours has started plotting big to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup
Despite the Asian Football Confederation’s backing for Saudi Arabia’s candidacy, Indonesia is in negotiations with Australia about a possible joint World Cup bid in 2034, according to its football chief.
After appointing Morocco, Spain, and Portugal as joint hosts for the 2030 World Cup, FIFA has solicited submissions from Asia and Oceania for the rotating World Cup hosting rights.
Riyadh’s candidacy is the next move in a campaign to transform the kingdom into a global sports superpower, but Indonesian FA president Erick Thohir, a former Inter Milan owner and government minister, indicated Jakarta and Canberra might prepare their own bids.
On Tuesday, he informed reporters that he mentioned the problem with his Australian counterpart during the FIFA Congress in Rwanda in March and that discussions have continued since then.
“At the time, Australia said ‘Let’s go together’, I replied ‘Okay, we’re ready’, it’s up to the government of each country to talk,” he was quoted as saying at a press conference.
The FIFA bid deadline of October 31 has hastened talks, according to Thohir.
Thohir also stated that he discussed the possibility with Indonesian President Joko Widodo, who he said replied favorably.
“The Australian side asked again ‘let’s do it seriously’,” he was quoted as saying.
Football Australia announced last week that it was considering bidding for the 2034 World Cup, but did not propose a joint candidacy with Indonesia.
However, Australian football officials stated in June that they were looking into a combined bid with Indonesia.
Thohir suggested that Indonesia and Australia team up with New Zealand, or that Indonesia and Australia team up with Malaysia and Singapore.
“We’re still open to these options as the bidding process is still a few weeks ahead,” he told reporters.
However, throughout the last year, Indonesian football has been engaged in controversy. A stadium stampede in Java killed 135 people a year ago, and Indonesia lost the chance to host the U-20 World Cup due to protests in the Muslim-majority country over Israel’s involvement.
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) endorsed Saudi Arabia’s application for the 2034 World Cup shortly after it was announced last week.
“The entire Asian football family will stand united in support of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s momentous initiative,” said AFC President Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa of Bahrain.
