Isn’t it time football came home… to Saudi Arabia?

As the countdown begins to the vote on Saudi Arabia’s bid to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup – and in celebration of the 94th Saudi National Day — Arab News proudly dedicates this issue to the Kingdom’s enduring passion for football. We invite readers around the world to back the bid and show their support for Saudi Arabia’s efforts to host this global event in a decade’s time.

From the establishment of Al-Ittihad FC in Jeddah in 1927 and the Saudi Arabian Football Federation in 1956 to the late and legendary Diego Maradona’s friendly with Al-Ahli FC in 1987 and the formation of the Saudi Women’s Premier League, this issue features stories and interviews highlighting the historic moments in the Kingdom’s football journey.

This issue also celebrates the rise of the Saudi Pro League as a global powerhouse, attracting world-class superstars such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Benzema, Neymar, Mane, Kante, Otavio, Mahrez and Bono.

The Kingdom’s passion and impressive track record of football achievements is why we, the people of Saudi Arabia, are thrilled to witness the dream to host this important global championship “become a reality,” as Hammad Albalawi, head of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation’s bid, said in an exclusive interview with Arab News for this issue.

Hosting this quadrennial festival of football comes as part of the Saudi government’s ambitious Vision 2030, which positions sports as a central element both to enrich citizens’ wellness and overall lives and to contribute to diversifying the country’s economy.

The Kingdom’s Vision 2030 aims for 40 percent of the population to be active by 2030. And since 2015, the participation rate in sporting activities has more than tripled, reaching approximately half of the country’s population, according to the International Olympic Committee.

Writing exclusively for Arab News on this occasion, Princess Delayel bint Nahar Al Saud, the director of the Saudi Games and acting CEO of the Riyadh 2034 Asian Games, noted that when the Kingdom invests in sport, “we are investing in ourselves,” and “every riyal spent on strengthening and expanding a Saudi sport or athletic tradition strengthens every Saudi.”

“When we invest in sport, we are investing in our young people, providing them with opportunities their parents could only imagine. Opportunities to test themselves, to dream and to chase those dreams.”

She stressed the Kingdom’s plan for the 2034 World Cup “to be the first nation to ever host the 48-team tournament as a single host country,” adding: “There really is no better place for the 2034 Asian Games and World Cup than Saudi Arabia.”

With 15 state-of-the-art stadiums across five host cities – Riyadh, Jeddah, NEOM, Khobar and Abha, the Kingdom is poised to welcome 48 teams and football fans from around the globe to the largest single-host nation event in World Cup history, set to take place a decade from now.

And something not to dismiss, some sixty percent of the world is within eight hours of traveling time to the Kingdom, which also sits within a timezone closer to most.

As Saudi Arabia celebrates its 94th National Day, rejoicing over the many achievements accomplished since its establishment in 1932, hosting the World Cup tournament would be a trophy in itself.

And if the national team’s performance in the Qatar 2022 games saw them defeat Argentina, three-time world champions, I would not be surprised if the Green Falcons actually win the 2034 World Cup.

Happy National Day, and dare I say, may football finally come home!

* Faisal J. Abbas is Editor-in-Chief of Arab News