Egypt has formally requested the right to host a set of group-stage matches for the 2034 World Cup, which will be held in Saudi Arabia, according to the president of the Egyptian Football Federation on Wednesday.
“Saudi Arabia will organize a historic edition of the World Cup, and we wish our Saudi brothers every success,” said Hany Abo Rida during the 14th CAF extraordinary general assembly in Cairo. “But at the same time, we hope that FIFA President Gianni Infantino will grant us, as Africans and Egyptians, the honor of hosting and organizing one of the World Cup groups in 2034.”
The tournament will commemorate the centenary of Egypt’s historic 1934 World Cup appearance, when they became the first African nation to compete in the global event, held in Italy.
Saudi Arabia was officially named the sole candidate and designated as the 2034 World Cup host by FIFA Congress on December 11. The tournament will make Saudi Arabia the third Arab country to host the World Cup, following Qatar in 2022 and Morocco in 2030, when it will co-host with Spain and Portugal.
Egyptian officials had previously expressed their aspirations to host the World Cup in 2034 and had also launched an unsuccessful bid to co-host the 2030 edition with Saudi Arabia and Greece.
AFP
