“Delivered on the Highest Level” – Saudi Sports Minister Backs Hosting FIFA 2034 World Cup Undermining Shallow ‘Sportswashing’ Claims

The FIFA World Cup is the most prestigious tournament in the soccer world. Hence, the host country has the responsibility to make sure they do not make any mistakes. This would lead to trolling on social media. Saudi Arabia is going to host the tournament in 2034. But the claims of sportswashing remain. Despite that, the Saudi Sports Minister has said that they can host the World Cup amid all the criticism.

Initially believed to be a brief involvement by soccer fans, Saudi Arabia’s investment in soccer has shown long-term dedication. This commitment is evident in the ongoing development of the Saudi League and its triumph in securing the rights to host the World Cup in 2034.

Saudi Sports minister believes the country is ready to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup

Australia and Saudi Arabia were competing for the hosting rights of the 2034 FIFA World Cup. In the end, Australia decided to back out of the race due to several reasons. This meant that the Middle Eastern country secured the hosting rights. This led to criticism from human rights groups as they intensified their claims of sportswashing. However, amid the issues, Saudi Sports Minister Prince Abdulaziz has claimed that the country is capable of hosting. He said, “We’ve showcased that—we’ve hosted more than 85 global events, and we’ve delivered on the highest level. We want to attract the world through sports.

The Saudi Sports Minister also rejected any advantage given to them. He has said that the federation got support from the other 125 federations to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup. The club will further gain experience as they also host the 2027 Asian Cup. They are already building three new stadiums that match the FIFA requirements for an international stadium.

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While the world may have doubts, the country has proved in the last few years that it is capable of hosting major sports tournaments.

Saudi Arabia already has the experience of hosting major sports tournaments

The country has invested huge amounts of money in the last five years in various sports. They began with the WWE Royal Rumble in 2018. Then, in 2019, they also hosted the Supercoppa Italiana between Juventus and AC Milan. Cristiano Ronaldo scored the winner for Juventus. They also hosted the Supercopa de Espana in 2020 where Real Madrid beat Atletico Madrid on penalties.

They also hosted the F1 Grand Prix in 2021 for the first time. The other events range from high-profile boxing matches like the fight between Tyson Fury and Francis Ngannou. It has been announced that they will host the first e-sports World Cup in the country.

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Do you think the country is ready to host the FIFA World Cup in 2034? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.