Saudi Arabia took an additional step towards obtaining the honor of hosting the 2034 FIFA World Cup, after Australia decided on Tuesday not to submit its candidacy file.
The Saudi Football Association announced last month that it had sent a letter requesting the Kingdom’s official candidacy to host the 2034 World Cup to the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA).
Indonesia recently announced its desire to jointly organize the 2034 World Cup with Australia, but the Australian Federation issued an official statement today in which it confirmed that it is not a candidate to organize the event. The statement explained that the decision was taken after conducting a comprehensive evaluation of the idea, indicating that the Federation would like to focus on hosting other events such as the Asian Cup. Women's 2026 and 2029 Club World Cup.
Australia's announcement that it is not a candidate to host the 2034 World Cup makes Saudi Arabia alone in the race, which practically determines its victory in the organization, unless another country from Asia applies to run, which seems completely unlikely.
Earlier this year, Saudi Arabia was confirmed to host the 2027 Asian Cup in football, and last year it won the rights to host the 2029 Asian Winter Games.
It is noteworthy that Qatar was the first Arab country to host the finals of the most prestigious competition in the world in 2022, while Morocco, Spain and Portugal were chosen to host the 2030 FIFA World Cup finals, making Morocco the second Arab country to have the honor of hosting.
Special message, What did Messi say after winning the 2023 Ballon d’Or?
Argentine legend Lionel Messi, the American Inter Miami striker, commented on his winning the 2023 Ballon d'Or award.
Messi was crowned for the eighth time in his career with the Ballon d'Or for the best player in the world, during a ceremony held by France Football, which presents the prestigious award, in Paris on Monday, becoming the first player to reach this number of balls in the history of football.
Messi said after winning the Ballon d'Or during his statements at the awards ceremony: "As I said many times, I never imagined that I would have this career. I am lucky with all of that, and I think this is very difficult."
He continued: “To be in the best club in history and to win many titles. I think I suffered several difficult defeats with the national team and I never gave up and continued to fight to continue my dream of winning the Copa and the World Cup. I am very proud of achieving all of that.”
He added: "I believe that Mbappe and Haaland will win the Ballon d'Or one day. I am confident of that."
He continued: "Retirement? I don't really know. I've been talking a lot lately, but I want to continue and continue to have fun. I cannot set a specific date and football changes every day. As I said, I love football and I want to continue."
Lionel Messi concluded his speech by saying: “Today is the birthday of Diego Maradona, and there is no better place than here to wish him a happy birthday. Wherever you are, happy birthday, Diego. This is for you too.”
Ronaldo comments sarcastically on awarding Messi the eighth Ballon d'Or
The captain of the Saudi Al-Nasr club, Portuguese striker Cristiano Ronaldo, commented sarcastically on his rival, Argentine and Inter Miami star, Lionel Messi, winning the Ballon d'Or for the eighth time.
Messi won the Golden Ball at a ceremony held yesterday, Monday, in Paris, after beating his former colleague at Paris Saint-Germain, French international Kylian Mbappe, and Manchester City star and the best player in Europe, Norwegian Erling Haaland.
Messi was crowned with this award after he finally succeeded in leading his country to win the World Cup at the end of 2022 in Qatar.
Messi won the Ballon d'Or for the eighth time in his legendary career, moving away from the top of the list of winners, three titles ahead of his rival Ronaldo, who was originally absent from the list of 30 candidates for the prestigious award in 2023.
Ronaldo reacted sarcastically to his rival's crowning of the eighth Ballon d'Or, as he placed symbols of faces laughing sarcastically on the video of the Spanish "AS" channel's analysis on "Instagram" of "The Flea" winning the award.
Broadcaster Thomas Roncero appeared in the video, criticizing the awarding of the Ballon d'Or to Messi, saying, "Hello, friends, What happened is what everyone knows. They gave Messi the Ballon d'Or again, He went to retire in Miami, but it looked like he had already retired in Paris Saint-Germain." Germain to prepare for the World Cup."
He added sarcastically: “He (Messi) won the World Cup. Yes, well, but he won it with 6 penalty kicks. The World Cup was held and ended 10 months ago and we are in November now.”