The 2034 World Cup in Saudi Arabia will be the first to be hosted by a single nation since FIFA introduced the new 48-team format.
The next two tournaments will also feature 48 teams, but both will be held across multiple nations – the United States, Canada, and Mexico next year; and Morocco, Portugal, and Spain in 2030.
The 2022 World Cup in Qatar was the first time the tournament was held in the Middle East – a groundbreaking move that broke plenty of records and set many new ones.
Around 5.4 billion people tuned in to watch the World Cup from the comfort of their homes, while 3.4 million attended the matches in person. Saudi Arabia will be eager to shatter those records and prove that ambitious change is possible.
As with many FIFA maneuvers and recent World Cups, it is not without its controversy, but if they stage a successful tournament, it will strengthen the country’s infrastructure and diversify the economy.
A Global Spotlight Like No Other
The World Cup is the most-watched sporting event on the planet, so hosting the 2034 edition will be the ultimate litmus test for Saudi Arabia.
The country’s investment in sports has already started at club level, with the Saudi Pro League luring some of Europe’s biggest stars to the Middle East through the Public Investment Fund (PIF).
The increase in investment in football has been termed sportswashing, and the 2034 World Cup is seen as part of this and will take things up a notch, marking the start of one of the most ambitious chapters in the country’s modern history.
Almost 90 percent of the entire Qatari population watched the 2022 World Cup, while over two-thirds attended live matches. Saudi Arabia will fancy its chances of surpassing those numbers.
The 2034 tournament will have a huge impact on the nation’s economy, image, and even the growing betting landscape. With more matches set to be played in Saudi Arabia, the Arabic betting sector will benefit massively.
The early announcement has given Saudi Arabia plenty of time to prepare for the event. While the stadiums have yet to be built, the government’s track record in delivering major projects on time bodes well for the World Cup.
Economic Growth & the Cost of Hosting the Tournament
Whenever a country hosts a major sporting event, the impact is felt off the pitch.
It brings in plenty of economic benefits, and with the World Cup being the mother of all sporting events, Saudi Arabia will be looking to take advantage.
The potential is even bigger in this region, as the World Cup fits into plans the country has already set under its ambitious projects.
Saudi Arabia will be investing in projects already on its to-do list, such as upgrading its transportation system and building state-of-the-art stadiums and hotels.
The World Cup will act as a clear deadline for these projects and provide extra motivation to get the job done faster.
These projects will create jobs and boost industries such as construction, engineering, transport, and real estate, which will keep adding to the nation’s economy long after the World Cup ends, but as with the World Cup in Qatar in 2022, there are concerns around worker welfare.
Saudi Arabia plans to host World Cup matches across several cities, including Riyadh. While the new stadiums are expected to meet FIFA standards, the Riyadh Metro has already been launched, although upgrades will be made before the World Cup.
Further expansions of transportation routes will make it easier for both residents and visitors to move around the city with ease.
Tourism and a New Workforce
Tourism is one of the most important parts of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, alongside sport, and hosting the 2034 World Cup will provide a further boost to Saudi Arabia, with the tournament set to accelerate the nation’s tourism plans.
Qatar welcomed around 1.4 million visitors in 2022 and generated billions in tourism revenue. Saudi Arabia will be keen to surpass that figure by capturing the attention of visitors with its wider range of tourist attractions.
Visitors travelling in to watch the World Cup will also visit Dirriyah, Al-Ula, the Red Sea coast, and the well-documented futuristic NEOM city.
To make sure visitors are well taken care of, Saudi Arabia plans to add tens of thousands of hotel rooms across cities hosting the World Cup. This will open up a wide range of employment opportunities across many different sectors, but, again, working conditions, especially in such a climate, are issues that need to be addressed, with few having confidence they will be.
People will be needed to build stadiums and transport systems, work in hotels and restaurants, provide security, manage events, and run shops during the tournament.
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