Riyad (Web Desk): Saudi Arabia has been officially confirmed as the host of the 2034 World Cup, signaling a significant shift in the global sporting landscape as the Gulf nation continues to expand its influence.
This announcement aligns with the kingdom's broader strategy to bolster its international profile through major events, supported by its Vision 2030 initiative.
Saudi Arabia has already made waves in the sports world, hosting high-profile events like Formula One races, heavyweight boxing matches, the LIV Golf series, and the WTA Finals in tennis.
Securing the World Cup is another bold step in this direction, although it comes with substantial challenges, particularly in terms of infrastructure.
At present, Saudi Arabia has only two stadiums with a capacity of 40,000 seats, far short of the 14 required by FIFA for the World Cup.
This means the country will need to invest heavily in building or upgrading stadiums to meet the demands of the tournament.
The extreme summer heat in the region could also pose logistical problems, prompting speculation that the tournament might be moved to a later date, as was done with the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
The additional complication of Ramadan taking place during the tournament further adds to the complexity, raising questions about scheduling.
Meanwhile, the 2030 World Cup will be a milestone, marking a century since the first World Cup was held in Uruguay.
The tournament will be jointly hosted by Morocco, Spain, and Portugal, with three matches set to be played in South America in Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay.
This will be the first World Cup to span three continents, and it reflects FIFA's desire to honor the competition's roots while promoting unity among different regions.
Morocco, which has previously bid unsuccessfully to host the tournament, will become only the second African nation to do so, following South Africa in 2010.
Spain, which last hosted the World Cup in 1982, will play a prominent role, with 11 of the 20 proposed stadiums located in the country. Portugal, which previously hosted Euro 2004, will contribute stadiums in Lisbon and Porto and hopes to host a semi-final.
The final match of the 2030 tournament is expected to be held in one of several iconic venues, such as Madrid's Santiago Bernabeu, Barcelona's Camp Nou, or Morocco’s planned Hassan II stadium, which will be the largest in the world once completed.
This unprecedented bid represents not only a celebration of the sport's history but also an ambitious attempt to bridge continents and cultures, underscoring the global nature of football.
