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Ian Gastim·22 November 2024
On December 11, the world will officially know where the 2034 World Cup will be held, with the announcement set to take place at FIFA’s next congress.
With no competing bids, Saudi Arabia is expected to be confirmed as the host nation — a bold candidacy that has faced international allegations of human rights violations and skepticism about LGBTQIA+ acceptance in the country.
At the forefront of the project is Hammad Albalawi, a Newcastle supporter, who built his career at the Saudi Ministry of Sports and now serves as the CEO of Saudi Arabia’s bid to host the World Cup.
During a press conference earlier this month, held on the final day of an exhibition about the Saudi proposal, Albalawi once again emphasized that the Kingdom is ready to welcome everyone as the World Cup host.
“Come and visit us to understand what it’s like to be in our country, because everyone will be respected and welcomed with open arms and hearts. My message is that everyone is welcome,” he said.
Albalawi dismissed allegations of human rights violations and reaffirmed that Saudi Arabia has met all the requirements to submit its proposal.
“We have satisfied all the requirements aligned with FIFA’s standards. We firmly believe the best way to understand anything is to come and see it for yourself,” he said.
“We received 27 million tourists last year and hosted over 100 international sporting events, attended by three million sports fans. We respect privacy laws; everyone enjoyed their time here and came back to visit us again,” he added.
The CEO refrained from specifying whether the World Cup would take place in the European summer, as traditionally scheduled, or in the winter, as was the case in Qatar.
In July, Saudi temperatures can exceed 50°C, but the country has stated that it is prepared to host the tournament during that period if FIFA decides so.
“If we are granted the right to host the World Cup, we will be pleased to be part of the discussion to schedule the tournament at the most suitable time. In a nutshell, we are ready to host the World Cup,” he affirmed.
The prohibition of alcohol in Saudi Arabia has raised questions, and it remains unclear whether exceptions will be made. In Qatar, for example, there is restrictions, but tourists could still consume alcohol during the 2022 World Cup.
For Albalawi, the ban should not affect the overall appeal of a Saudi-hosted World Cup.
“There are many reasons for people to visit our country: safety, culture, places like Al-Khobar, our amazing food. We have many beautiful sites—deserts, beaches. There are so many reasons for people to visit our country,” he said.
“I hope we will have the opportunity to show our passion for football, share our culture, our food, our art, and our hospitality. That is what excites us,” he added.
Saudi Arabia plans to host matches in five cities: NEOM—a futuristic city still under construction—Jeddah, Abha, Riyadh, and Al-Khobar. An additional 11 cities will serve logistical support roles.
The 104 matches will mark the first World Cup with 48 teams hosted in a single country. According to Albalawi, the proposal includes 15 stadiums, four of which are already operational.
“Three more are under construction, and the others will be built, all with legacy in mind to meet the growing demand for football,” he explained.
The investment in infrastructure—including stadiums and training centers—aims to develop Saudi football. Albalawi highlighted that the country’s infrastructure has seen little growth despite its population tripling in recent decades.
“Our goal is to return to being one of the top 21 football nations [their best historical ranking], but why not aim higher? You can feel the passion we have for football, and it drives us every day. If we didn’t wake up every morning dreaming of winning, we wouldn’t be winners,” he said.
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