Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia & Singapore exploring combined bid for FIFA World Cup 2034

Asian continents have been chosen as the World Cup 2034 host

The head of the nation's football association (PSSI) revealed on Wednesday that Indonesia and Australia are in talks regarding the possibility of submitting a combined application to host the World Cup 2034 alongside Malaysia and Singapore.

The Asian and Oceanian member associations of FIFA were invited to submit bids for access to the 2034 tournament last week.

Football Australia directed Reuters to an announcement from last week that stated it was "exploring the possibility of bidding for the FIFA Club World Cup 2029 and/or the FIFA World Cup 2034" when asked for comment on a potential joint bid.

“We are discussing (a bid) with Australia,” PSSI President Erick Thohir was quoted as saying by the Sydney Morning Herald.

“When I visited Malaysia and Singapore both countries expressed interest to join Indonesia and Australia.”

“We are quite strong,” he said. “I think FIFA will see that the Middle East area has been the host with Qatar last year. Japan and Korea have been host too. I am sure FIFA will try other countries.

“The potential to win if we join with Australia, Malaysia and Singapore is bigger too.”

An inquiry for a response from Reuters has gone unanswered by the PSSI.

FIFA encouraged Asia and Oceania to submit a bid for the 2034 World Cup after revealing that Spain, Morocco, and Portugal were going to host the 2030 tournament, with Uruguay, Paraguay, and Argentina hosting the opening matches.

FIFA has given other interested parties until October 31 to declare their intentions after Saudi Arabia swiftly confirmed its intention to bid for the hosting rights.

Erick Thohir suggested that it could be premature for the World Cup to come to the Middle East after Qatar hosted the 2022 edition.