Saudi Arabia fans enjoy themselves in the stands at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Getty Images
Saudi Arabia announced on Wednesday its intention to bid to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup.
Led by the Saudi Arabian Football Federation, the bid for 2034 intends to deliver a world-class tournament and will draw inspiration from Saudi Arabia’s ongoing social and economic transformation and the Kingdom’s deep-rooted passion for football.
Saudi Arabia’s inaugural bid is backed by the Kingdom’s growing experience of hosting world-class football events and its ongoing plans to welcome fans across the world to the 2023 FIFA Club World Cup and 2027 AFC Asian Cup.
Reflecting on the intention to bid, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman emphasized that Saudi Arabia’s desire to bid for the 2034 FIFA World Cup is a reflection of the Kingdom’s progress in all sectors.
The Kingdom has quickly emerged as a leading hub and an international destination for hosting major events thanks to its rich cultural heritage, economic strength, and the ambition of its people.
'Hosting a World Cup means everything to us' - Saudi football president
Under the Saudi Vision 2030, sport is playing a significant role in contributing to the country’s economic growth and enhancing the quality of life for all and holds a unique ability to unite and bring different cultures together.
A renowned host for some of the biggest global sports events since 2018, Saudi Arabia has been home to over 50 international events for both male and female athletes including football, motorsports, tennis, equestrian, esports and golf.
Saudi Arabia has qualified for the iconic tournament on six occasions since 1994 — most recently in 2022 — when the Green Falcons secured a historic victory over eventual champions Argentina.
Minister of Sport Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki said: “Hosting a FIFA World Cup in 2034 would help us achieve our dream of becoming a leading nation in world sport and would mark a significant milestone in the country’s transformation. As an emerging and welcoming home for all sports, we believe that hosting a FIFA World Cup is a natural next step in our football journey.”
Yasser Al-Misehal, President of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation, stated: “We believe the time is right for Saudi Arabia to host the FIFA World Cup.
“Our bid is driven by a love for the game and a desire to see it grow in every corner of the world. We want to celebrate our football culture and share our country with the world.
“We are embracing Saudi Arabia’s enthusiasm for innovation and growth as we make our bid for this iconic tournament; the Kingdom’s transformation journey is the driving force behind our bid. We are committed to hosting an exceptional event that celebrates the game, captivates players and fans, and inspires future generations.
“To be in a position to bid to host a FIFA World Cup is only possible with the full support of the Kingdom’s leadership and we thank them for their continued committed to drive the country forward and open up new opportunities,” Al-Misehal added.
As the FIFA World Cup expands to a 48-team tournament from 2026 onwards, tournament logistics are front of mind for players, officials, and fans. Saudi Arabia will host all matches in the Kingdom, streamlining travel, optimizing match scheduling, and providing unique fan experiences across host venues and cities.
A young and vibrant nation with over 70 percent of its population under the age of 35, Saudi Arabia is also home to one of the strongest leagues in Asia, the Saudi Pro League. Welcoming and engaging fans from across the globe, the league is home to some of the best Saudi talent and international star players from over 45 different countries.
SAFF’s commitment to invest and grow the game at every level across the men’s and women’s game is highlighted by recent notable achievements including winning the men’s U-23 AFC Asian Cup, 160 percent increase in youth football investment, opening 18 youth regional training centers, increasing registered coaches from 750 in 2018 to over 5,500 today, and witnessing an increase of 56 percent and 86 percent in registered male and female players respectively since 2021.
Saudi Arabia’s ambition to grow the game and create new opportunities across the ecosystem is equaled in the women’s game. Since 2019, SAFF has successfully established a senior women’s and U-17 national teams, two professional women’s leagues featuring 38 clubs, and a school girls league which welcomed over 48,000 girls in its first week. In just 2 years, there has also been an 800 percent growth in the number of female coaches.
The world is gradually getting rid of isolated dictatorships that try to force others into economic servitude, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday.
"The world is gradually getting rid of the dictatorship of a financial and economic model aimed at driving into debt and servitude, turning into economic colonies and depriving entire regions of the world of resources for development," Putin said. Few people, he said, want such a future. "Therefore, building a multipolar world order that is more democratic, honest and fair for the majority of humanity is simply inevitable, historically necessary," he said.
Putin stated that it also includes creating strong economic foundations for such a global system. Furthermore, modern technologies open new options for both people and businesses alike, allowing the government to establish and support public and financial institutions that reflect the changing reality of a multipolar world, as well as develop more convenient and secure international payment systems.
Countries managing global currencies are at the top of a "financial pyramid" and this is not in line with interests of the majority, he added. "I strongly expect that despite all the current complications at the international stage, we will eventually achieve a certain consensus, not being confined to only interests of countries that head, so to say, this financial pyramid at present. This is actually clear because these are apparently their national currencies. However, this does not correspond to today’s interests of the overwhelming majority of mankind," the Russian President said.
It is very important to elaborate common approaches as regards cyber-threats because these are common problems, the President added, referring to the problem of cybercrimes.
Russia to develop already good relations with Iran, says Putin
Russia and Iran have forged strong ties and will develop them in the future, Russian President Vladimir Putin said.
"We have very good relations with Iran. And we will enhance them in every possible way. It is an ancient culture, Persia,... our neighbor. That is why we do our utmost in order to develop relations with Iran, and will keep this up in the future," Putin said.
When touching upon cooperation in the education area, he pointed out that Russia should "see interest from these countries in order to establish educational institutions there."
"However, the idea is a good one, since it implies soft power in the kindest and best sense of this word, the promotion of our culture and our education systems. We will mull this over as well," the president concluded.
Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) makes his way through a crowd of reporters as he heads to a GOP leadership meeting at the U.S. Capitol. (Bill O'Leary/The Washington Post)
In the wake of Rep. Kevin McCarthy’s unprecedented ouster as speaker, House Republicans are in uncharted territory Wednesday as they search for a replacement for their colleague from California. And without a speaker — one of the most powerful positions in Congress — the U.S. House of Representatives’ functions are extremely limited.
Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, became the first to publicly share his plans to run, emphatically telling reporters “yes” when asked whether he’d seek to lead the chamber. Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.), the House majority leader, also announced Wednesday that he would run for speaker.
McCarthy announced Tuesday night that he would not seek the position again, setting up an expected intraparty battle for the speakership, which is second in line to the presidency. McCarthy’s removal Tuesday, driven by hard-right members of his party, was a step never before taken in the House. Besides selecting a new leader, House Republicans must find consensus for funding the government by mid-November or again risk a shutdown.
Rep. Jim Jordan says he will run for speaker
Asked by reporters Wednesday whether he is running for speaker, Jordan offered a one-word answer: “Yes.”
Jordan was elected to Congress in 2006 and has steadily risen in the ranks of the Republican conference. In January, he became chairman of the powerful House Judiciary Committee and has used that perch to fight those who are investigating former president Donald Trump.
Jordan was one of eight House lawmakers who were part of Trump’s defense team in his first Senate impeachment trial. In one of Trump’s last acts as president, he gave Jordan the Presidential Medal of Freedom — the nation’s highest civilian award.
A former chairman of the hard-right House Freedom Caucus, Jordan was first nominated for the speakership in January by hard-right Republicans who opposed McCarthy.
At the time, however, Jordan steadfastly maintained his support for McCarthy. Among those in Jordan’s corner this time around: Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), who spearheaded the push for McCarthy to be removed from his leadership position.
“My mentor Jim Jordan would be great!” Gaetz posted Tuesday on X, formerly known as Twitter, in response to a report that Jordan was entertaining a speaker’s bid.
Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), an ally of McCarthy’s with ties to the Freedom Caucus, and Rep. Jim Banks (R-Ind.) also have expressed support for Jordan.
Rep. Steve Scalise also announces run for speaker
In a statement early Wednesday afternoon, Scalise, the second-highest-ranking Republican in the House, announced he would seek the speakership.
Scalise, who was critically wounded in 2017 when a gunman opened fire at a GOP practice for the annual Congressional Baseball Game, described the Republican conference as a family “who saved my life on that field.”
“Now, more than ever, we must mend the deep wounds that exist within our Conference,” Scalise wrote.
“I have a proven track record of bringing together the diverse array of viewpoints within our Conference to build consensus where others thought it impossible.”
The Louisianian was first sworn into Congress in 2008 after campaigning as a voice of the South and red-state Republicans more broadly. He went on to chair the Republican Study Committee, a caucus of the most conservative House members.
Scalise might, however, struggle to gain the support of the Freedom Caucus. Although Scalise is more conservative than McCarthy, the group sees him as part of the “establishment” and entrenched in GOP leadership.
House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) expressed support for Scalise on Tuesday, several news outlets reported. It is noteworthy because Emmer has also been considered a shortlist candidate.
Republicans grapple with how to move forward
On Wednesday, Republicans who voted to keep McCarthy in the speakership said the big challenge ahead was figuring out how their conference could rack up enough votes for their next speaker.
“I think the mood is not great,” said Rep. Kelly Armstrong (R-N.D.), noting that he doesn’t believe any candidate — officially announced or not — can currently get the 217 votes needed to secure the speakership.
Armstrong, however, said he has one question for whoever wants the job: “How are you going to ensure that what happened never happens again?”
Scalise and Jordan haven’t yet made a pitch to him for his support, he noted, because they know how close he is to McCarthy.
“I’m gonna give this 12, 24, 36 hours before we start talking about pitching,” Armstrong said.
Earlier in the day, during a lengthy gaggle with reporters, Rep. Garret Graves (R-La.), another McCarthy ally, said it is “premature” to have a conversation about who the next speaker should be.
Instead, Graves focused his frustrations on Gaetz, whom he accused of not thinking about the consequences of his actions.
“He’s frozen the House,” Graves said. “Not just the accountability measures, not just the impeachment inquiry and those things, but also we can’t even act to cut funds. I mean, this was so stupid.”
While Graves suggested that Gaetz might face consequences from the GOP conference, Armstrong said House Republicans are unlikely to expel him from their ranks.
“You don’t get to kick somebody out because you think he’s an a------,” he said. “But we have to figure out a way to function as a rule-based organization where five people have a petty grievance at any given day.”
Speaker hopefuls making pitches to Texas delegation Several Republicans interested in running for speaker made their pitches to members of the sizable Texas House Republican delegation Wednesday morning.
Among those doing so: Scalise, Jordan and Rep. Kevin Hern (Okla.).
Hern, who has been in Congress since 2018, told reporters that his business experience — he had operated 18 McDonald’s franchises in addition to other ventures — meant he could bring a different approach to the job.
“Thinking about a different face, somebody who’s got different experiences than probably everyone else [who] is going to announce. And we’re going to speak to that and see how that resonates with the folks,” he said.
Biden weighs in on McCarthy ouster
President Biden offered his take on McCarthy’s ouster, saying that “more than anything, we need to change the poisonous atmosphere in Washington.”
Speaking to reporters Wednesday, Biden also emphasized that the federal government has “a lot of work to do” to reach a spending agreement. Last weekend, Congress passed a bipartisan measure to fund the government, but only through mid-November.
“We have strong disagreements, but we need to stop seeing each other as enemies. We need to talk to one another,” he said.
The president added that he was “grateful” to all parties, including McCarthy — whom he referred to as the former speaker — for their work in negotiations to keep the government open.
Gaetz fundraises off speakership battle Gaetz, who led the effort to oust McCarthy, is fundraising off the opposition within GOP ranks to removing the speaker.
Graves, the McCarthy ally from Louisiana, admonished Gaetz on the House floor ahead of Tuesday’s vote to remove McCarthy.
Graves held up his phone, which displayed a message from Gaetz’s campaign, and said that “using official actions” to raise money “is disgusting.”
In a fundraising email sent by his campaign on Wednesday, Gaetz wrote that he “was ATTACKED and BOOED by RINOs” — Republicans in Name Only — for asking his supporters to “contribute to this fight.”
“I will NOT be lectured by Republicans who grovel and bend knee for the lobbyists and special interests who have hollowed out this town and borrowed against the future of our future generations,” the email says. “These lobbyists and special interests own our leadership and HATE that I fund my political operation by asking Patriotic Americans for $10, $20, and $30 at a time.”
McConnell offers a bit of advice Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) told reporters on Wednesday that the next House speaker should get rid of the motion-to-vacate rule, which triggered McCarthy’s ouster.
“I have no advice to give to House Republicans, except one: I hope whoever the next speaker is, gets rid of the motion to vacate,” McConnell said. “I think it makes the speaker’s job impossible, and the American people expect us to have a functioning government.”
McConnell began his news conference by thanking McCarthy “for his service” and noted that he and the California Republican “had a great personal relationship.”
“I think he has much to be proud of, he avoided a government shutdown, did the inevitable with regard to the debt ceiling,” McConnell said. “I’m one person who is extremely grateful for his service.”
Trump waves off talk of becoming speaker As former president Donald Trump arrived for the third day of his civil fraud trial in New York on Wednesday, he waved off talk about becoming speaker himself, saying he was focused on his presidential reelection bid.
“A lot of people have been calling me about speaker,” Trump told reporters before entering a courtroom. “All I can say is, we’ll do whatever is best for the country and for the Republican Party.” Asked whether he would take the job, Trump did not rule it out but again emphasized that he wanted to be president.
“If I can help them through the process, I would do it, but we have some great people in the Republican Party who could do a great job as speaker,” he said. “I’ll do whatever it is to help, but my focus — my total focus — is being president.”
Mondaire Jones walks back post on McCarthy Former congressman Mondaire Jones (D-N.Y.) is walking back comments he made on social media, after what he said was interpreted by some as antisemitic.
After McCarthy lost his bid on Tuesday to remain House speaker, Jones shared an image of McCarthy meeting with Hasidic leaders in New York alongside Rep. Michael Lawler (R-N.Y.). Jones is seeking Lawler’s congressional seat.
“Well this was a waste of everyone’s time,” Jones posted Tuesday on X, formerly known as Twitter, alongside the image of the meeting.
Jones later said the post “was too open to misinterpretation.”
“My point was to communicate that Kevin McCarthy, and by extension Michael Lawler, cannot possibly deliver for communities in Rockland because he’s no longer Speaker. Regrettably, I did not make this point clear enough, and so I have deleted the tweet,” Jones wrote Wednesday, adding that he’s “a strong ally of our diverse Jewish communities.
Russian forces destroyed Ukrainian missile/artillery depots in the Kupyansk area over the past day in the special military operation in Ukraine, Russia’s Defense Ministry reported on Wednesday.
"Near the settlements of Kupyansk and Liptsy in the Kharkov Region, depots storing missile and artillery armament of the Ukrainian army’s 41st mechanized brigade and ammunition of the 113th territorial defense brigade were eliminated," the ministry said in a statement.
Russian forces destroy 30 Ukrainian troops in Kupyansk area over past day
Russian forces destroyed roughly 30 Ukrainian troops, a tank and a US-made radar station in the Kupyansk area over the past day, the ministry reported.
"In the Kupyansk direction, aircraft, artillery and heavy flamethrower systems of the Western Battlegroup struck manpower and military hardware of the Ukrainian army’s 25th air assault, 32nd and 115th mechanized brigades and 103rd territorial defense brigade in areas near the settlements of Sinkovka and Berestovoye in the Kharkov Region, Stelmakhovka and Artyomovka in the Lugansk People’s Republic," the ministry said.
Russian forces destroyed as many as 30 Ukrainian personnel, a tank and two motor vehicles in the Kupyansk area over the past day. Near the settlement of Shiykovka in the Kharkov Region, they eliminated a US-made AN/TPQ-37 counter-battery radar station, the ministry specified.
Russian forces repel two Ukrainian attacks in Krasny Liman area over past day
Russian forces repelled two Ukrainian army attacks in the Krasny Liman area over the past day, the ministry reported.
"In the Krasny Liman direction, two attacks by assault groups of the Ukrainian army’s 21st mechanized brigade and Azov 12th special operations brigade [outlawed in Russia as a terror group] were repelled by well-coordinated actions of units from Battlegroup Center, army aircraft strikes and artillery fire in the area of the settlement of Yampolovka in the Donetsk People’s Republic and the Serebryansky forestry," the ministry said.
Russian forces destroyed as many as 50 Ukrainian troops, two armored combat vehicles and two D-30 howitzers in the Krasny Liman area over the past 24 hours, it specified.
Russian forces repulse four Ukrainian attacks in Donetsk area over past day
Russian forces repulsed four Ukrainian army attacks in the Donetsk area, killing and wounding roughly 165 enemy troops over the past day, the ministry reported.
"In the Donetsk area, units of the Southern Battlegroup supported by aircraft and artillery fire repulsed four attacks by assault groups of the Ukrainian army’s 5th assault, 59th motorized infantry and 53rd mechanized brigades in areas near the settlements of Andreyevka, Vodyanoe and Nevelskoye in the Donetsk People’s Republic," the ministry said.
The enemy lost roughly 165 personnel killed and wounded and seven items of military hardware, including a US-made M777 artillery system in the Donetsk direction over the past 24 hours, it specified.
Near the settlement of Konstantinovka in the Donetsk People’s Republic, Russian forces obliterated an ammunition depot of the Ukrainian army’s 24th mechanized brigade, the ministry reported.
Russian forces wipe out command posts of three Ukrainian army brigades in DPR, LPR
Russian forces destroyed command posts of three Ukrainian army brigades in the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics (DPR and LPR) over the past day, the ministry reported.
"Command/observation posts of units from the Ukrainian army’s 79th air assault, 5th assault and 100th territorial defense brigades were eliminated," the ministry said.
Ukraine’s army loses 185 troops in south Donetsk area over past day
Russian forces struck Ukrainian army units in the south Donetsk area, killing and wounding roughly 185 enemy troops over the past day, the ministry reported.
"In the south Donetsk direction, units of Battlegroup East repelled an attack by an assault group of the 127th territorial defense brigade near the settlement of Priyutnoye in the Zaporozhye Region. In addition, assault and army aircraft struck manpower and equipment of the Ukrainian army’s 72nd mechanized brigade near the settlement of Novomikhailovka in the Donetsk People’s Republic," the ministry said.
The enemy lost as many as 185 personnel killed and wounded, three armored combat vehicles, two motor vehicles and a D-20 artillery gun in the south Donetsk area over the past 24 hours, it specified.
Russian forces destroy 45 Ukrainian troops in Zaporozhye area over past day
Russian forces supported by assault aircraft inflicted damage on Ukrainian manpower and military hardware in the Zaporozhye area, eliminating roughly 45 enemy troops over the past day, the ministry reported.
"In the Zaporozhye direction, units of the Russian battlegroup in interaction with army and assault aircraft inflicted damage on manpower and equipment of the Ukrainian army’s 46th air mobile brigade and the National Guard’s 15th brigade in areas near the settlement of Malaya Tokmachka and northwest of Verbovoye in the Zaporozhye Region. They destroyed as many as 45 Ukrainian personnel and two motor vehicles. In counter-battery fire, they eliminated an Msta-B howitzer, a D-30 howitzer and a US-made M119 gun," the ministry said.
Russian forces wipe out Ukrainian ammo depot near Kherson over past day
Russian forces destroyed a Ukrainian ammunition depot in the Kherson area over the past day, the ministry reported.
"In the Kherson direction, as many as 20 Ukrainian troops, two motor vehicles, a US-made M777 artillery system and an ammunition depot of the 126th territorial defense brigade were destroyed in the area of the city of Kherson over the past 24 hours as a result of damage inflicted on the enemy by firepower," the ministry said.
Russian combat aircraft down Ukrainian MiG-29 warplane in Dnepropetrovsk Region
Russian combat aircraft shot down a Ukrainian MiG-29 fighter in the Dnepropetrovsk Region over the past day, the ministry reported.
"Fighter aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces shot down a Ukrainian Air Force MiG-29 plane near the settlement of Soldatskoye in the Dnepropetrovsk Region," the ministry said.
Russian forces destroy Ukrainian radar in Nikolayev Region over past day
Russian forces destroyed a Ukrainian radar station in the Nikolayev Region over the past day, the ministry reported.
"Near the settlement of Krinichki in the Nikolayev Region, a P-18 aerial target detection and tracking radar station was destroyed," the ministry said.
Russian air defenses down two anti-ship missiles, seven HIMARS, Grad rockets
Russian air defense forces shot down two Ukrainian Neptune anti-ship missiles, a JDAM smart bomb and seven rockets of the HIMARS and Grad multiple launch rocket systems over the past day, the ministry reported.
"Air defense capabilities intercepted two Neptune anti-ship missiles, a US-made JDAM guided air bomb and seven rockets of the HIMARS multiple launch rocket system of American manufacture and the Grad multiple rocket launcher," the ministry said.
Russian air defenses destroy over 70 Ukrainian drones in past day
Russian air defense and electronic warfare systems destroyed and suppressed over 70 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles in the past day, the ministry reported.
"During the last 24-hour period, 74 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles were destroyed and suppressed by electronic warfare systems in areas near the settlements of Vasilyevka, Kropivnitskoye and Peski in the Donetsk People’s Republic, Verbovoye, Mirnoye, Ulyanovka, Ilchenkovo and Pologi in the Zaporozhye Region, Krasnorechenskoye and Belogorovka in the Lugansk People’s Republic and Veliky Vyselok in the Kharkov Region," the ministry said.
During the last 24-hour period, operational/tactical and army aircraft, missile troops and artillery of the Russian groupings of forces inflicted damage on Ukrainian manpower and military hardware in 114 areas, it said.
In all, the Russian Armed Forces have destroyed 484 Ukrainian warplanes, 250 helicopters, 7,491 unmanned aerial vehicles, 440 surface-to-air missile systems, 12,326 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 1,160 multiple rocket launchers, 6,642 field artillery guns and mortars and 13,789 special military motor vehicles since the start of the special military operation in Ukraine, the ministry specified.
