Indonesia is actively considering a joint bid with Australia, Malaysia, and Singapore to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup, according to the President of Indonesia’s football federation (PSSI), Erick Thohir. The move comes after FIFA invited member associations from Asia and Oceania to bid for the hosting rights for the 2034 tournament.
Thohir stated, “We are discussing (a bid) with Australia,” further mentioning that Malaysia and Singapore have also expressed interest in joining forces for this ambitious endeavor.
Football Australia, approached for comment, referred to its recent statement, which indicated its exploration of the possibility of bidding for the 2029 FIFA Club World Cup and/or the FIFA World Cup in 2034.
As the bidding process unfolds, Saudi Arabia has already announced its intent to bid for the hosting rights, and FIFA has set a deadline of October 31 for other interested parties to submit their bids.
Akmal Marhali, from the Indonesian watchdog Save Our Soccer, pointed out the strength of a joint bid from Indonesia, Australia, Malaysia, and Singapore. He argued that, given Qatar’s hosting of the 2022 World Cup and previous hostings by countries in the Middle East, the Middle East might not be the frontrunner for the 2034 event. Marhali believes that FIFA might be inclined to explore other regions.
A successful joint bid would expand the World Cup’s presence across the Asia-Pacific region, following the 2026 World Cup, set to feature 48 teams, which will be hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
