How did Saudi Arabia land the 2034 World Cup?

Sky News Daily

Wednesday, 11 December 2024 - 16 minutes

Saudi Arabia has been awarded the men's 2034 World Cup. It will be the crowning event in its sport spending spree, having already reportedly invested £5bn since 2021, as it tries to diversify away from oil. Niall Paterson is joined by Sky News' Rob Harris and Middle East football expert James M Dorsey to discuss what it means for football and the kingdom. The plans are not lacking in ambition and include a new stadium 350m above ground level, in an as-yet unbuilt futuristic carless city. But big questions remain about how the country landed the tournament, with its bid unopposed and the country consistently facing claims of human rights abuses. Podcast Producer: Alex Bishop Editor: Philly Beaumont