Neymar: '2034 has all the potential to be the best World Cup ever'

Al Hilal Neymar has backed Saudi Arabia’s bid to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup, saying it could be the best global finals yet.

The Saudi Arabian Football Federation officially unveiled its Bid Book in July under the tagline “Growing. Together” as the Kingdom bids to stage football’s marquee event for the first time. A decision on the host for the 2034 tournament will be made next month, during the FIFA Congress on December 11.

Neymar, Brazil’s all-time leading goalscorer, recently toured the Saudi 2034 bid exhibition in Riyadh with Hammad Al Balawi, head of the bid unit, and was wowed by what the country has to offer. The 2034 bid has proposed five host cities - Riyadh, Jeddah, Al Khobar, Abha and NEOM - which will house 15, state-of-the-art stadiums in all.

Describing the hugely exciting project as “the best I’ve ever seen in my life” for both players and fans, Neymar added: “It has all the potential to be the best World Cup ever.”

The Brazil forward, currently recovering from injury, was especially taken by the focus the bid places on maximising the experience for those competing, saying: “They’re thinking about the players so there’s no long flights and travel time… making it easier to get from the game to the hotel and recover faster.”

The bid aims to leverage Saudi Arabia’s geographic advantage, given that 60 percent of the world’s population live within an eight-hour flight of the Kingdom.

Having signed for Al Hilal in August last year, Neymar has witnessed firsthand the unprecedented growth of the Roshn Saudi League. Football in the Kingdom is developing rapidly at all levels, with the number of youth-training centres increasing to 23, support for more than 300,000 boys and girls in school leagues, and an increase in the number of registered football coaches, from 700 in 2019 to more than 4,000.

And Neymar believes the investment in the future of Saudi football will pay dividends right the way up to the senior national team, saying: “They will definitely be more competitive in 2034.”

On showcasing the Kingdom to the world, he added: “People have a different view of Saudi Arabia before they experience it. When they come here, they have a different, very positive, perspective. It’s very important for everybody from all over the world to know more about Saudi culture.”