This is something that I never imagined would happen.

Nevermind the number of stadiums that would be required to be built, just the idea that The Kingdom would allow that many foreigners to come in as tourists to watch games. It's an amazing change in the culture from when I grew up there.

We used to play on hard packed sand but got our first astroturf field in about 1983. Now, hosting the World Cup, 50 years after that, it's a big leap.

Can't wait to find out which cities will be hosting matches.

https://saudigazette.com.sa/article/647781/SAUDI-ARABIA/Its-now-official-Saudi-Arabia-host-of-2034-World-Cup

Woo doggy that'll be a helluva party!

Pretty easy to imagine when you combine the overwhelming corruption of FIFA with the Saudi's enormous push of sportswashing

Weird circumstance in how FIFA now selects hosts. They rotate between the different confederations.

Because the US, Canada, Mexico are co-hosting in 2026 that leaves out CONCACAF (North America and Central America).

In 2030 they are doing a weird thing and co-hosting with Portugal, Spain, Morocco, and playing three games in South America to mark the 100th anniversary of the first World Cup. That eliminates Europe, Africa, and South America for 2034.

So either the Asian Confederation or Oceania would have to host 2034. Saudi Arabia was the only bid. They apparently also achieved the highest score ever in a bid to host the World Cup. Probably pledged a lot of "green" crap and money out the wazoo.

https://global.espn.com/football/story/_/id/42892121/saudi-arabia-2034-fifa-world-cup-explainer-human-rights-winter-world-cup-calendar-cost

I really thought when they went to Qatar they should have done a combined Saudi, Qatar, UAE World Cup and it would have checked the box for the region. I guess we are going to get another winter World Cup unless Saudi has some pledges that no player or fan will ever have to step outside to go from hotel to stadium.

The Houthis are prepping their missiles now.

You can walk around there at anytime of the day or night without having to worry about crime and safety. Very safe country.

I have heard business owners leave their stores unlocked/open and homeowners leave their doors unlocked when they go and pray (Muslims pray 5 times a day) because the criminals fear the consequences in that country so much.

You cannot say the same for the 2026 world cup which will be having games in Atlanta, Philadelphia, New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle, Kansas City, Dallas, and Houston.

It is a very high trust society in stark contrast to the US which is low trust.

Are they going to allow alcohol? Not a soccer fan myself, but I can't imagine any major sporting event being successful without alcohol for the fans.

Keep going.

agent-maroon said:

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Are they going to allow alcohol? Not a soccer fan myself, but I can't imagine any major sporting event being successful without alcohol for the fans.

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Interesting question. They now have an official liquor store that allows alcohol to be sold to foreign embassies in Riyadh.

My guess is no booze at the events but diplomats will probably host parties at their embassies for their countrymen.

aduey06 said:

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I really thought when they went to Qatar they should have done a combined Saudi, Qatar, UAE World Cup and it would have checked the box for the region. I guess we are going to get another winter World Cup unless Saudi has some pledges that no player or fan will ever have to step outside to go from hotel to stadium.

The Houthis are prepping their missiles now.

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Yeah, no doubt any stadiums within range of Iran will be attacked at some point.

For the 2022 Qatar World Cup, there would not have been any way for Saudi Arabia to join since they didn't allow tourism until late 2019.

And of course they're not going to support Qatar, especially as the top billed name.

HollywoodBQ said:

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aduey06 said:

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I really thought when they went to Qatar they should have done a combined Saudi, Qatar, UAE World Cup and it would have checked the box for the region. I guess we are going to get another winter World Cup unless Saudi has some pledges that no player or fan will ever have to step outside to go from hotel to stadium.

The Houthis are prepping their missiles now.

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Yeah, no doubt any stadiums within range of Iran will be attacked at some point.

For the 2022 Qatar World Cup, there would not have been any way for Saudi Arabia to join since they didn't allow tourism until late 2019.

And of course they're not going to support Qatar, especially as the top billed name.

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What? Pilgrams have been making their way to Mecca for a really long time.

I've worked in Saudi Arabia and have seen the low key oppression of the general public.

I'm not sure what "tourism" would look like in Saudi Arabia, unless you were of the Muslim faith.

10 years away.

Socca'

Possibly w/o alcohol.

But will the Saudis allow vuvuzelas? That is probably the most interesting question about this.



Without the annoying AF vuvuzelas, would any red blooded American even know its televised?

Well, that is one way for Saudi Arabia to support the gays.

Quote:

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So either the Asian Confederation or Oceania would have to host 2034. Saudi Arabia was the only bid. They apparently also achieved the highest score ever in a bid to host the World Cup. Probably pledged a lot of "green" crap and money out the wazoo.

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Pure, 100%, corruption. The leadership at FIFA would make a dictator blush, they are so corrupt.

The reason that there was only one bid is that they announced a bidding process that was due about 25 days after the announcement. Miraculously, Saudi Arabia had a bid package ready. Australis couldn't do it in the allotted time. The scoring on criteria is a joke.

agent-maroon said:

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Are they going to allow alcohol? Not a soccer fan myself, but I can't imagine any major sporting event being successful without alcohol for the fans.

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They will follow the Qatar model......okay limited alcohol, collect money from alcohol sponsors, then just prior to event say "just joking guys!".

Wonder if Scottish Soccer Hooligan Weekly will be doing remote broadcasts from Riyadh

zephyr88 said:

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I've worked in Saudi Arabia and have seen the low key oppression of the general public.

I'm not sure what "tourism" would look like in Saudi Arabia, unless you were of the Muslim faith.

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Do people randomly beat to death an 87 year old grandfather who is using the ATM (and get only 6 years in prison for it), throw disabled grandmothers in front of subway trains, beat disabled grandmothers to a bloody pulp near a residential stairway, randomly punch a grandmother unconscious, and bodyslam a cancer widow causing permanent paralysis like they do in our cities and urban counties?

I like the world cup but not enough to care where it is when not in the US.

I'm sure a big deciding factor was the ~$20 billion I bet they gave FIFA and its Board in kickbacks. If they will fund LIV to tune of several billion, then who knows what they paid for the World Cup

agent-maroon said:

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Are they going to allow alcohol? Not a soccer fan myself, but I can't imagine any major sporting event being successful without alcohol for the fans.

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. This was my question.

Are they going to allow females to walk outside with skin showing below the chin?

agent-maroon said:

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Are they going to allow alcohol? Not a soccer fan myself, but I can't imagine any major sporting event being successful without alcohol for the fans.

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Almost have to, need something to wash down those BLTs

They will have zones set up for people to indulge in. Will it be Germany or France or the US? No, but it will be there.

SunrayAg said:

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Are they going to allow females to walk outside with skin showing below the chin?

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Love to see the women playing in hijabs... Should be entertaining.

northeastag said:

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HollywoodBQ said:

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aduey06 said:

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I really thought when they went to Qatar they should have done a combined Saudi, Qatar, UAE World Cup and it would have checked the box for the region. I guess we are going to get another winter World Cup unless Saudi has some pledges that no player or fan will ever have to step outside to go from hotel to stadium.

The Houthis are prepping their missiles now.

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Yeah, no doubt any stadiums within range of Iran will be attacked at some point.

For the 2022 Qatar World Cup, there would not have been any way for Saudi Arabia to join since they didn't allow tourism until late 2019.

And of course they're not going to support Qatar, especially as the top billed name.

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What? Pilgrams have been making their way to Mecca for a really long time.

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Big difference between making the Pilgrimage and being a tourist.

Saudi Arabia lets millions in every year for the Pilgrimage during Hajj but they never allowed people to just come in as a tourist anytime they wanted to.

Also, they didn't let people linger around in The Kingdom after Hajj. They've been cracking down on illegals for a long time. The USA could learn a few lessons from them in this regard.

I remember many times after Hajj where they would setup roadblocks and check everybody's ID and make you open up the trunk of the car to make sure you weren't smuggling any pilgrims in the back.

I thought it was pretty ridiculous - like who would want to stay in Saudi Arabia if you didn't have a job here? But, that was before I'd traveled to some real crapholes (like most of India and Palmdale, CA). So yeah, there are countries out there where staying as an illegal in Saudi Arabia would be preferable to returning home.

We should hire Rapinoe as an assistant coach. And when she tries her activist antics over there, she can find out why the US isn't so bad after all.

Burdizzo said:

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Wonder if Scottish Soccer Hooligan Weekly will be doing remote broadcasts from Riyadh

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I 'member. And I chuckled. Thanks!!!

zephyr88 said:

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I've worked in Saudi Arabia and have seen the low key oppression of the general public.

I'm not sure what "tourism" would look like in Saudi Arabia, unless you were of the Muslim faith.

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Not sure how long you were there or where (assume Eastern Province) but there's actually a lot of really interesting stuff to see but most of that is in the western part of the country.

The Nabatean Tombs at Madain Saleh is one of the most impressive things I've ever seen.
The hieroglyphs outside Taif were interesting and the old camel trail from Taif down to Mecca was pretty amazing.
I've never been to Asir in the SW part of the country but there is a lot of unspoiled wildlife there.

These days, they're building all these new artificial island tourist destinations in the Red Sea and obviously there's the Forumla 1 race in Jeddah every year.

By the way, if you ever get the opportunity to go snorkeling or scuba diving in the Red Sea, I highly recommend it.

twk said:

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Quote:

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So either the Asian Confederation or Oceania would have to host 2034. Saudi Arabia was the only bid. They apparently also achieved the highest score ever in a bid to host the World Cup. Probably pledged a lot of "green" crap and money out the wazoo.

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Pure, 100%, corruption. The leadership at FIFA would make a dictator blush, they are so corrupt.

The reason that there was only one bid is that they announced a bidding process that was due about 25 days after the announcement. Miraculously, Saudi Arabia had a bid package ready. Australis couldn't do it in the allotted time. The scoring on criteria is a joke.

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Speaking of Australia, isn't the reason they got the 2032 Olympics in Brisbane because they were the only ones who submitted a bid?

I figured one of the prerequisites for hosting a giant soccer tournament would be… grass.

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Speaking of Australia, isn't the reason they got the 2032 Olympics in Brisbane because they were the only ones who submitted a bid?

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Probably so. The Olympics are having to beg cities to host because of all the unrecoverable costs involved. The World Cup is a bit of a different story; there are countries that can host the event without building any new facilities, and who are equipped to handle the tourists, then there are places like Saudi Arabia (and before it. Quatar).

I would imagine Medina will not be hosting any games.

HollywoodBQ said:

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This is something that I never imagined would happen.

Nevermind the number of stadiums that would be required to be built, just the idea that The Kingdom would allow that many foreigners to come in as tourists to watch games. It's an amazing change in the culture from when I grew up there.

We used to play on hard packed sand but got our first astroturf field in about 1983. Now, hosting the World Cup, 50 years after that, it's a big leap.

Can't wait to find out which cities will be hosting matches.

https://saudigazette.com.sa/article/647781/SAUDI-ARABIA/Its-now-official-Saudi-Arabia-host-of-2034-World-Cup

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I used to play golf (there wasn't much else to do until the evening parties with all the expats in for holidays) in Awaz, Iran, during college summers and Christmas breaks on a course where the greens where an oily course sand, the rest of the course was desert hard pan and the roughs were this low shrubbery that looked and felt like very thin extremely *****ly holly leaves, yea, you didn't want to go there.

In the winter (rainy season) the place is so flat, when it rains you would think you were living on a lake...all the roads are elevated about 3', e v e r y w h e r e!

My nephews lived there about the same time as you, I would imagine. Edit, now you have them beat by about 10 years.

More. Keep going.

Don't forget that women couldn't leave the country without permission until very recently

2034 but what about polar ice melt from global warming, wont saudi arabia be flooded over in sea water?