Football fans will be banned from drinking alcohol in the stadiums during the 2034 World Cup in Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia has won the right to host the FIFA World Cup 2034.
While FIFA has not released an official statement, senior FIFA officials have said fans will not be allowed to buy or consume alcohol when the FIFA World Cup takes place in 2034. Unlike in many other Muslim countries, alcohol sales remain prohibited even in luxury hotels in Saudi Arabia.
Alcohol sale was banned in the country by King Ibn Saud in 1952. FIFA said it learned a lesson two years ago when Qatar was pressured to accept sales to beer sales in stadiums only for the ruling Al-Thani family to put their foot down and scrap the plan two days before the tournament started.
In early 2022, special zones were due to be designated specifically for fans to consume alcoholic beverages at the Qatar World Cup. Months later it allowed fans to bring alcohol to the stadium instead. However, two days before the tournament, Qatar scrapped the decision instead.
Read more: Saudi Arabia to Host FIFA 2034
The decision, made during an Extraordinary FIFA Congress meeting, was met with celebration in Riyadh and sharp criticism across the globe. With no rival bids, Saudi Arabia’s appointment came through acclamation, but the move has ignited debates over human rights, climate concerns, and sportswashing.
The Saudi Sports Minister, Abdulaziz bin Turki bin Faisal al Saud, hailed the announcement as a “proud day” for the kingdom, pledging to deliver an “extraordinary” tournament. However, critics see the decision as yet another chapter in FIFA’s murky relationship with authoritarian regimes, highlighting the growing trend of awarding global sporting events to nations with questionable human rights records.
The Saudi Public Investment Fund has poured billions into sports, from LIV Golf to high-profile football signings, fueling allegations that the kingdom is using sports to whitewash its repression of dissent, women’s rights activists, and LGBTQ communities.