The prospect of Saudi Arabia and England potentially crossing paths in the race to host the Women's World Cup has emerged, as a senior football official in the Gulf state has voiced the notion of the Gulf state bidding for the 2035 tournament.

During the Leaders Week conference in London, Monika Staab, the Technical Director of Women's Football at the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF), expressed her belief that Saudi Arabia should actively pursue the opportunity to bid for the 2035 Women's World Cup.

"I told the sport's administrators it takes time to go to the World Cup. I know they want to host the men's World Cup - why not host the Women's World Cup in 2035?" said Staab. "We're now getting a team ready to be at least competing at that level." 

The SAFF has already submitted a formal bid to host the 2034 men's World Cup. If successful on both fronts, this would not only position Saudi Arabia as the first country to host consecutive men's and women's World Cups but could also impede England's aspirations of hosting the latter event.

In May, Debbie Hewitt, Chair of the English Football Association, revealed that the governing body was actively exploring the possibility of submitting a bid to host the 2031 tournament.

However, if the joint bid from Germany, Netherlands, and Belgium for the 2027 edition proves successful, the English FA may have to reconsider their timeline. Due to the rotational hosting system between continents, a victorious bid by the European trio would necessitate a delay for England until the 2035 tournament.  

Saudi Arabia has demonstrated a formidable commitment to various sports, making substantial investments in football, Formula One, boxing, tennis, and golf in recent years. These ventures exemplify the nation's determination to foster growth and enhance their presence in the global sporting landscape.  

Notably, the Saudi Pro League football clubs have spared no expense, with an impressive expenditure of nearly one billion dollars during the summer transfer window. This strategic investment aims to elevate the domestic competition by luring some of the world's most talented players to showcase their skills on Saudi Arabian soil.  

SAFF has set its sights on a commendable goal of qualifying for a Women's World Cup within the next decade. Furthermore, Saudi Arabia has emerged as a contender to host the Women's Asian Cup in 2026, with Australia also vying for the opportunity to organize this showpiece event.