Saudi storm FA warned to avoid protest unless boycotting World Cup

The Football Association board has been warned by voices in internal discussions to avoid protesting at today's meeting that will confirm Saudi Arabia as host of the 2034 men's World Cup, unless it is willing to boycott the tournament.

- Paul MacInnes

Saudi Arabia will formally win the right to stage the World Cup at a virtual meeting of the 211-member Fifa congress. Yesterday there remained a lack of clarity about the process, despite Saudi Arabia being the only bidder, with uncertainty among member nations as to whether they will be given a chance to vote or simply to approve the bid by acclamation, a collective round of applause.

The English FA has not spoken publicly about how it will approach the vote, but it is understood there have been board-level conversations. Some argued against using the vote to register a protest, saying it would ring hollow if England then compete in the tournament. The FA did not respond to a request for comment.