Saudi Arabia Will Host FIFA World Cup 2034. What it Means for Tourism
Skift Take
Saudi Arabia has been confirmed as the host nation for the FIFA World Cup 2034, making it the second Gulf nation to host the event after Qatar in 2022. FIFA president Gianni Infantino confirmed the decision Wednesday during a virtual conference.
The result isn't a surprise since the kingdom was the only bidder, but it shows the rapid changes in Saudi, which only opened for international tourism in 2019.
2034 is four years after Saudi is expected to have fulfilled its Vision 2030 plan to become a tourism hub. By the end of the decade, it wants 80 million domestic tourists a year and 70 million international.
Hammad Albalawi, Saudi Arabia’s head of the FIFA World Cup 2024 bid unit said in a pre-recorded video: “We predict the best-ever World Cup. Don’t think football tournament, think football festival. Singing, dancing, arm in arm, feeling safe and feeling together. We will bring more teams and more fans to one place than ever before."
