SA's 2035 World Cup dream facing a new hurdle

South Africa has been a name frequently associated with the World Cup 2035, but it seems that their hosting prospects just got a little bit more complicated.

For every South African fanatic, the idea of hosting a World Cup would be a dream come true, especially given the euphoria of the 1995 showpiece.

South Africa, fresh from transitioning from Apartheid to a democratic state, welcomed the world to their shores in 1995 and went on to win the World Cup.

The significant moment when Nelson Mandela and former captain Francois Pienaar hoisted the Webb Ellis trophy has been ingrained in the history of the country.

The Springboks went on to lift the trophy three more times (2007, 2019 and 2023).

However, they have never hosted it again.

SA Rugby suffered failed bids for the 2011, 2015, 2019 and 2023 tournaments, and now it seems like, given the country’s economic struggles, the idea to bid for the 2035 is another failed project.

The South African government has backed the idea of bidding for the 2035 World Cup.

However, last week, various media outlets reported that SA Rugby president Mark Alexander has shown a reluctance to bid for the event, simply stating that the country can’t afford to host the tournament.

“The government has to provide a lot of support by way of infrastructure and security.

“There is also the financial guarantee that has to be provided up front. We had to provide World Rugby with a guarantee of R4-billion when bidding for the 2023 World Cup,” Alexander told the Sunday Times.

“I will tell SA Rugby not to do this. There’s other stuff more urgent than the World Cup. We are a third-world country. Our economy is not strong, and we have to act responsibly.

“I know our people would love to host the World Cup, but for now, with all the challenges we have, we would be putting the country through undue pressure.”

Meanwhile, ESPN revealed that Saudi Arabian sports minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal has confirmed the country would be interested in hosting the 2035 World Cup.

Saudi Arabia, along with the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, are reportedly set to bid for the 2035 tournament.

Al-Faisal told reporters at the Saudi Arabian Formula 1 Grand Prix that the country is open to hosting the tournament and wants to develop the sport at a domestic level.

“We’re interested in rugby; we’re interested in developing the sport locally. So, we created the federation and so on to see what we can do to develop the sport,” he told ESPN.

“I don’t think we’re on the level of hosting yet, but the ’35 World Cup is in 10 years, so maybe it grows in that direction, and we see a big interest in that, then why not?”

The bidding process for the 2035 World Cup is set to begin in two years.

Australia will host the 2027 World Cup and the USA the 2031 event.

Sources: Sunday Times & ESPN