Saudi Arabia 2034 World Cup: ‘Sports-washing,’ Criticism and Global Glory

By Zekeri Idakwo

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia recently faced backlash from human rights champions and hyper-critics for allegedly using sports as a distraction from its agelong reputational issue. This strategy they termed “sports-washing.”

However, the Kingdom’s helmsman, Mohammed bin Salman, statistically responded to this allegation during his Fox News interview, saying: “if sports-washing is going to increase my GDP by 1%, then we will continue doing sports-washing….I have 1% growth in GDP from sport and I am aiming for another 1.5%,” he said.

And just when the world thought the criticism will sway the desert Kingdom’s relish for the game, it has instead spurred the nation to another echelon, as the country is now set to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup, becoming the fourth Asian country and the second Middle Eastern nation to do so.

The Kingdom is the only bidder for the prestigious tournament, after Australia decided not to bid hours before FIFA’s deadline on 31 October 2023. Saudi Arabia’s bid was announced on 4 October 2023 and received the backing of the Asian Football Confederation president Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa. Saudi Arabia also claimed that over 70 different member associations had pledged their support for its bid, including Nigeria.

Hosting the World Cup is not only a matter of pride and prestige for Saudi Arabia, but also a strategic move to boost its economy and diversify its sources of revenue. The Kingdom has been undergoing a series of reforms and initiatives under its Vision 2030 plan, which aims to reduce its dependence on oil revenues and develop other sectors such as tourism, entertainment, sports, culture, and technology. The World Cup is expected to attract millions of visitors and generate billions of dollars in revenue for the host country.

According to a report by PWC, the World Cup could add up to $17 billion to Saudi Arabia’s GDP and create up to 220,000 jobs between 2023 and 2035. The report also estimated that the direct impact of hosting the World Cup on the economy would be around $7.4 billion, while the indirect and induced results would be around $9.6 billion. The report highlighted the potential benefits of hosting the World Cup in terms of infrastructure development, tourism growth, foreign investment attraction, social cohesion, and international reputation.

Saudi Arabia has already invested heavily in building and upgrading its infrastructure and facilities to host the World Cup. The Kingdom plans to use 12 stadiums in six cities: Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Khobar, Qiddiya, and King Abdullah Sports City. Some of these stadiums are new or under construction, while others are being renovated or expanded. For example, the King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh will have its capacity increased from 68,000 to 80,000 spectators. The Riyadh New Stadium and the Qiddiya Stadium are both new venues with a capacity of 40,000 capacity each.

In addition to stadiums, Saudi Arabia is also developing other infrastructure projects such as roads, railways, airports, hotels, and entertainment venues to accommodate the influx of visitors and make their experience an enjoyable one. The Kingdom has launched several mega-projects such as NEOM, a futuristic city in the northwest of the country; The Red Sea Project, a luxury tourism destination on the Red Sea coast; and Amaala, a wellness resort on the northwestern coast. These projects are expected to offer world-class facilities and services to tourists and create new opportunities for investment and employment.

Hosting the World Cup is also an opportunity for Saudi Arabia to showcase its culture and heritage to the world and improve its image and reputation. The Kingdom has been opening up to the world in recent years, easing its social restrictions and granting more rights and freedoms to its citizens, especially women. The Kingdom has also been promoting its cultural and historical attractions, such as Al-Ula, an ancient archaeological site; Diriyah, the birthplace of the Saudi state; and Mada’in Saleh, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Hosting the World Cup will allow Saudi Arabia to share its rich and diverse culture with millions of people from different backgrounds and foster mutual understanding and respect.

The World Cup is also a chance for Saudi Arabia to demonstrate its leadership and influence in the region and beyond. The Kingdom has been playing an active role in regional and international affairs, mediating conflicts, supporting peace initiatives, providing humanitarian aid, and combating terrorism. The Kingdom has also been strengthening its ties with other countries through strategic partnerships and bilateral agreements. Hosting the World Cup will enhance Saudi Arabia’s soft power and diplomatic clout and enable it to build strategic bridges with other nations.

The 2034 FIFA World Cup is a mega event that will have a lasting impact on Saudi Arabia’s economy, society, culture, and politics. It is a mega investment vista for the kingdom that will generate significant returns in terms of growth, development, innovation, diversity, and sustainability. It is also a mega opportunity for Saudi Arabia to showcase its achievements, potential, values, and vision to the world.