source: StadiumDB.com; author: Kuba Kowalski
In 2030, the FIFA World Cup will make its way to Portugal, among other countries. Yet, Al-Nassr’s superstar, Cristiano Ronaldo, has already sparked controversy—likely not without a price tag—by declaring that the tournament in Saudi Arabia will be the best in history. Ronaldo also praised the stadiums, though at this point, they don’t even exist.
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In a video posted on his social media, Ronaldo highlighted Saudi Arabia’s rapid development. His choice of words seems deliberate, given the Portuguese star is known for adding a few extra centimeters to his height by standing on his toes in pre-match team photos. Similarly, Ronaldo seems to be adding some height
to Saudi Arabia’s achievements.
The country secured the World Cup hosting rights through the proverbial back door. FIFA President Gianni Infantino paved the way for Saudi Arabia by deciding that the 2030 World Cup would take place across three continents. Spain, Portugal, and Morocco will co-host, with the opening three matches held in South America. This arrangement meant that, under FIFA’s rotation policy, bids for 2034 were restricted to Asia and Oceania.
Setting aside FIFA’s clear financial priorities, Saudi Arabia is far from prepared for a World Cup. Currently, the country has only two stadiums with the capacity required to host such an event. Furthermore, some plans under the Saudi Vision 2030 initiative are already being scaled back. The ambitious projects and visionary stadium designs aim to improve Saudi Arabia’s global image, despite ongoing controversies regarding human rights and the country’s authoritarian leadership.
Design of King Khalid University Stadium
Say Portugal,
and you think of Ronaldo. Say Real Madrid,
and you think of Ronaldo. Say Champions League,
and, again, you think of Ronaldo—even though he hasn’t played in it for a while. Could there be a better figurehead for a footballing project? Saudi Arabia wants people to associate the country with Cristiano, and it’s working. If anyone stands to lose, it’s the man himself—at least in the eyes of football fans. Improving the image of the land of the Holy Cities of Islam goes beyond sports. Football serves merely as a front for a larger goal: consolidating Saudi Arabia’s power on the global stage.The 2034 World Cup will probably be the best World Cup ever. I’m convinced that it will be amazing. The infrastructure, the stadiums, the conditions for the fans, the airports, and everything else, it’s amazing. The future [in Saudi Arabia] is very bright in my opinion, not only for the World Cup, but because every year they host big events here: football matches, boxing. The quality of entertainment is very high. The country is unbelievable. The Saudis are very good people; they like to learn, which for me, is very important,
Ronaldo said.Design of King Abdullah Economic City Stadium
Will Saudi Arabia fulfill its ambitious World Cup promises? Will we see ultra-modern stadiums perched on cliffs, a stadium shaped like a whirlpool, or other projects that experts deem impossible to complete in just ten years? It seems the Saudis are unbothered by these challenges.
By 2034, most fans will likely have forgotten the grand announcements, much like what happened after the recent World Cup in Qatar. Instead of billion-dollar investments or a stadium built on a man-made peninsula, we received a modular arena made of shipping containers.
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