The 2034 FIFA World Cup has been awarded to Saudi Arabia; this is a great milestone in the growing stature of the nation in world sports. The decision came during an online FIFA meeting chaired by President Gianni Infantino, during which there was overwhelming applause from more than 200 member federations for Saudi Arabia’s unopposed bid.
After this announcement, Spain, Portugal, and Morocco will co-host the 2030 World Cup, while Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay each organize an event to celebrate the centenary of the inaugural 1930 World Cup.
Allegations of non-transparency characterize the 2034 World Cup bidding process. As per the rights groups and global observers, Saudi Arabia has entered into preparations that include a lot of infrastructure construction and labor practices that would endanger migrant workers, especially from South Asia. Officials in Saudi Arabia, however, state that hosting the tournament will promote reforms, basically in the rights and freedoms of women.
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The arrangements for the tournament form part of the Saudi Vision 2030 program, which will include massive investments in infrastructure. Plans include the development of modern 15 stadiums, the construction of luxury hotels, and the installation of an advanced transport system. A notable project is a stadium that is to be constructed in Neom, in an ultra-modern city still under construction, and another one on a cliff near Riyadh.
The Saudi strategy is following the bigger vision that they used sports as a vehicle to carry the rest of the world to contact and find a new way to modernization. Critics termed such efforts “sportswashing,” for it was an attempt to hide the alleged human rights abuse in the country under the bright lights of sporting events. But for FIFA, Saudi investments have become the order of the day, from elevating the state oil company, Aramco, to a new top-tier sponsorship category to using Saudi funding for major events, like the 2025 Club World Cup, set to take place in the United States.
He is the most important promoter and supporter of Vision 2030, the one designed by Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia. Along with this strong personal relationship with FIFA and Infantino, being the beneficiary of these ties since 2017, it has furthered the cause of Saudi Arabia’s World Cup ambitions, with only token opposition from soccer officials and players.
To an extent, the 2034 World Cup will increase the eyes of Saudi Arabia and make it more possible that objectives outside of football could be achieved through societal and economic transformation.