Arab Press

بالشعب و للشعب
Friday, Jun 20, 2025

Will Egypt, Saudi Arabia co-host 2030 World Cup?

Will Egypt, Saudi Arabia co-host 2030 World Cup?

Saudi and Egyptian media have been circulating reports about a joint Saudi-Egyptian plan to host the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
Recent press reports revealed that Cairo and Riyadh are seeking to submit a joint application to host the 2030 FIFA World Cup, since both countries have the capabilities to organize large soccer events.

On Aug. 22, the Egyptian news website Cairo24 reported, “Cairo and Riyadh will officially announce the joint application soon. The two countries have agreed to co-host the event and establish a joint committee whose most prominent member is Hany Abou Rida, the Egyptian Football Association’s former president and member of the International Federation of Association Football's Executive Board.”

Abou Rida, who is also a member of the Executive Board of the Confederation of African Football, confirmed in TV statements Aug. 31, “Egypt can host the World Cup in the future. The world will see many changes in the next two years when it comes to organizing competitions. Egypt has a legitimate right to aspire to this.”

Abou Rida continued, “The world is moving toward co-hosting this event, in which 48 national teams take part. Countries will need to collaborate, and we hope that Egypt will have a role in this.”

Mohamed Fawzy, spokesman for the Egyptian Ministry of Youth and Sports, told Al-Monitor that a joint Egyptian-Saudi application for the 2030 FIFA World Cup is a possibility. However, he was unable to confirm or deny it at this time, saying, “Why wouldn't a cooperation with Saudi Arabia happen? Our relationship is very good, but I cannot disclose whether there are talks between the two countries.”

Fawzy noted, “Egypt has the facilities and infrastructure allowing it to host the World Cup, as well as the Olympics. The political leadership in Egypt believes in sports, and the country has hosted a number of international competitions.”

Egypt has recently hosted several major sports events, namely the African Cup of Nations in June 2019, African Cup of Nations qualifying set for the Tokyo Olympics in 2020 and World Men’s Handball Championship in January.

In June, Minister of Youth and Sports Ashraf Sobhi said in statements to Egypt's Al Watan newspaper, “Hosting the 2030 World Cup is part of Egypt's plan, but the state has not made the official move yet.”

He continued, “In the coming period, developments around the official moves in that direction will happen in cooperation with the Egyptian Football Association.”

Regarding cooperation between Egypt and Saudi Arabia for the 2030 FIFA World Cup, Sobhi said in TV statements in August, “Egypt will work with countries willing to cooperate." He noted that the current trend is moving toward co-hosting global events.

The Athletic, a British sports news website, reported in July about a US company submitting a proposal to Saudi Arabia, and it recommended the cooperation of different countries for the World Cup instead of one country alone. It also recommended for Saudi Arabia to present a joint application to host the World Cup with Egypt and Morocco.

Egyptian sports analysts welcomed the idea of a joint Egyptian-Saudi application to host the 2030 FIFA World Cup, predicting that the championship will be a success on the audience and logistics levels given the fact that both countries have the required infrastructure and expertise to organize large events.

Sports analyst Mohamad al-Jazzar told Al-Monitor, “Egypt and Saudi Arabia have strong infrastructure to hold a unique World Cup.” He said that the situation in Egypt has changed since 2004 — the year when Egypt failed in its bid to host the 2010 World Cup. It received 0 votes, while Morocco received 10 votes and South Africa won its bid with 14 votes.

Jazzar called on the Egyptian and Saudi authorities to prepare a strong application to convince the members of FIFA's Executive Board to hold the championship again in the Middle East, after Qatar won its bid for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

He predicted that the Egyptian-Saudi application might succeed given the good reputation and expertise both countries have in organizing global and regional sports events.

Mohamed Mostafa, managing editor of the Egyptian sports website Yalla Kora, told Al-Monitor, “Submitting a joint Egyptian-Saudi bid to host the 2030 World Cup will increase the chances of both countries to get it, since they have the infrastructure and experience to host international and transcontinental events.”

He pointed out, “FIFA currently welcomes the idea of co-hosting, which is how the UEFA European Championship has been held with 12 European cities participating.”

Mostafa said, “Egypt has the stadiums, facilities and hotels to host the World Cup.” However, he underlined “the need to develop the current infrastructure to host the most important soccer event in the world.”

He concluded, “Egypt lacks the professional planning to manage the sports system, the schedule of competitions and an elected soccer federation instead of a temporary committee to manage the event. But despite this, [Egypt] is working to attract crowds to stadiums.”
Newsletter

Related Articles

Arab Press
0:00
0:00
Close
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
Senate hearing on who was 'really running' Biden White House kicks off
G7 Leaders Fail to Reach Consensus on Key Global Issues
Mass exodus in Tehran as millions try to flee following Trump’s evacuation order
Iranian Military Officers Reportedly Seek Contact with Reza Pahlavi, Signal Intent to Defect
China's Iranian Oil Imports Face Disruption Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions
Trump Demands Iran's Unconditional Surrender Amid Escalating Conflict
Israeli Airstrike Targets Iranian State TV in Central Tehran
President Trump is leaving the G7 summit early and has ordered the National Security Council to the Situation Room
Netanyahu Signals Potential Regime Change in Iran
Analysts Warn Iran May Resort to Unconventional Warfare
Iranian Regime Faces Existential Threat Amid Conflict
Energy Infrastructure Becomes War Zone in Middle East
Iran Conducts Ballistic Missile Launches Amid Heightened Tensions with Israel
Iran Signals Openness to Nuclear Negotiations Amid Ongoing Regional Tensions
Shock Within Iran’s Leadership: Khamenei’s Failed Plan to Launch 1,000 Missiles Against Israel
UK Deploys Jets to Middle East Amid Rising Tensions
Exiled Iranian Prince Reza Pahlavi Urges Overthrow of Khamenei Regime
Wreck of $17 Billion San José Galleon Identified Off Colombia After 300 Years
Iran Launches Extensive Missile Attack on Israel Following Israeli Strikes on Nuclear Sites
Israel Issues Ultimatum to Iran Over Potential Retaliation and Nuclear Facilities
Coinbase CEO Warns Bitcoin Could Supplant US Dollar Amid Mounting National Debt
Trump to Iran: Make a Deal — Sign or Die
Operation "Like a Lion": Israel Strikes Iran in Unprecedented Offensive
Israel Launches 'Operation Rising Lion' Targeting Iranian Nuclear and Military Sites
Israeli Forces Intercept Gaza-Bound Aid Vessel Carrying Greta Thunberg
IMF Warns of Severe Global Trade War Impacts on Emerging Markets
Syria to Reconnect to Global Economy After 14 Years of Isolation
Saudi Arabia Faces Uncertainty Over Succession After Mohammed bin Salman
Israel Confirms Arming Gaza Clan to Counter Hamas Influence
Majority of French Voters View Macron's Presidency as a Failure
U.S. Reduces Military Presence in Syria
Trump Demands Iran End All Uranium Enrichment in Nuclear Talks
Iran Warns Europe Against Politicizing UN Nuclear Report
Businessman Mauled by Lion at Luxury Namibian Lodge
Paris Saint-Germain's Greatest Triumph Is Football’s Lowest Point
OPEC+ Agrees to Increase Oil Output for Third Consecutive Month
Turkey Detains Istanbul Officials Amid Anti-Corruption Crackdown
Meta and Anduril Collaborate on AI-Driven Military Augmented Reality Systems
EU Central Bank Pushes to Replace US Dollar with Euro as World’s Main Currency
European and Arab Ministers Convene in Madrid to Address Gaza Conflict
Head of Gaza Aid Group Resigns Amid Humanitarian Concerns
U.S. Health Secretary Ends Select COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendations
Trump Warns Putin Is 'Playing with Fire' Amid Escalating Ukraine Conflict
India and Pakistan Engage Trump-Linked Lobbyists to Influence U.S. Policy
U.S. Halts New Student Visa Interviews Amid Enhanced Security Measures
Trump Administration Cancels $100 Million in Federal Contracts with Harvard
SpaceX Starship Test Flight Ends in Failure, Mars Mission Timeline Uncertain
King Charles Affirms Canadian Sovereignty Amid U.S. Statehood Pressure
Iranian Revolutionary Guard Founder Warns Against Trusting Regime in Nuclear Talks
×