Latest news with #WorldCup2034
Al Arabiya
30-06-2025
- Sport
- Al Arabiya
‘I belong to Saudi Arabia': Cristiano Ronaldo vows ‘best season ever' with Al Nassr
Cristiano Ronaldo shared insights into his upcoming season with Saudi football club Al Nassr, growth of the Saudi Pro League, and his plans in the Kingdom which he says extend well beyond his two-year renewed contract with the club. In interview clips posted on X by the club's official account, Ronaldo said he plans on winning something 'very important' for Al Nassr this season. 'We are going to change so many things. I believe in Al Nassr and the fans. This season will be our best season ever... and we are going to win something very very important,' he said. Last week, Ronaldo extended his contract with Saudi Arabia's Al Nassr. The new contract will allow the Portuguese national to play for the club well past his 42nd birthday. The football star has scored 93 goals in 105 appearances for the club in all competitions. Saudi Pro League growing Ronaldo also praised the Saudi Pro League for its growing competitiveness and bringing global talent into the Kingdom. 'I am happy because I know the league is very competitive,' he said adding that he believes in the competition. 'This is why I want to stay because I believe in the project, not just the next two years but until 2034 when we bring the World Cup in Saudi Arabia which I believe will be the most beautiful one ever.' The FIFA World Cup 2034 in Saudi Arabia will see the first-ever 48-team tournament in a single host country. Matches will be held across 15 stadiums in five host cities: Riyadh, Jeddah, Khobar, Abha, and Neom. The former Real Madrid sensation credited Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for bringing unique changes in the country and boosting the Kingdom's growth not just in sports but several other avenues. 'The Crown Prince has done an amazing job, and he is the most important person in the process of change in this country, so we have to appreciate him and the people around him,' he said. 'The future will be bright because things are going so fast,' he continued. Long-term plans On his plans for the future, Ronaldo said he hopes to be part of Saudi Arabia's journey as the Kingdom grows, not just in football but in 'everything.' 'I will stay two years more as a football player but also for life because my contribution for this country is not for football, it is for everything. I want to be part of the growth of the country forever,' the five-time Ballon d'Or winner said hinting that his plans extend beyond his two-year contract with Al Nassr. 'I am Portuguese, but I belong to Saudi Arabia.'
New York Times
28-06-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Cristiano Ronaldo says 2024 World Cup in Saudi Arabia will be ‘the most beautiful one ever'
Cristiano Ronaldo says that he believes the 2034 Men's World Cup will be 'the most beautiful' edition of the tournament ever. As reported by The Athletic, the 40-year-old forward signed a new two-year contract with Saudi Pro League side Al Nassr on Thursday. Ronaldo, who joined Al Nassr in January 2023, has been vocal in his belief in the Saudi Pro League, saying in January 2024 that it was better than Ligue 1. Advertisement The Portugal international said in an interview with the club: 'Of course, we (the Saudi Pro League) are still improving. I believe that in this moment that we are top five (leagues in the world) already. I still believe that we will continue to improve, and we have time. 'We have shown in the last two years that the league is going up all the time. I am happy because I know that the league is very competitive. Only the people who have never played in Saudi Arabia and know nothing about football say this league is not top five (in the world). 'I believe 100% in my words, and the people that play in this league know what I am talking about. So this is why I want to stay (in Saudi), because I believe in the project. 'Not just the next two years but until 2034, which is when the World Cup will be held in Saudi Arabia. I believe that will be the most beautiful World Cup ever.' The Athletic has reported that human-rights groups have criticised Saudi's suitability to stage the finals since even before it formally expressed an interest in doing so — with many of the misgivings being similar to the questions posed towards the 2022 World Cup when that was awarded to Gulf region neighbour Qatar. These concerns include the treatment of migrant workers, women and the LGBTQ+ community, as well as the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Separate issues noted include sustainability, the weather and the supporter experience. In its evaluation report, FIFA graded Saudi's bid as the strongest to have ever been made by a potential World Cup host. To the fury of campaigners, they only graded the country's human rights as a medium risk. Steve Cockburn, Amnesty International's head of labour rights and sport, called that report an 'astonishing whitewash of the country's atrocious human rights record'. At the previous World Cup in Qatar two years ago, FIFA asked federations to 'focus on the football' amid similar questions. The Saudi Arabian government says the reason for its sporting expansion is to create investment opportunities, improve public health in the country and develop a sporting infrastructure. It is keen to improve the statistic that some 60 per cent of the Saudi population are overweight or obese. One aim, given by Yasser Al Misehal, the president of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation, is to increase the number of registered male players there from 21,000 to more than 200,000. He did not mention a target for female ones. Advertisement But there is more to it than that. Saudi Arabia's crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, is on a mission to change how his country is seen both internationally and by its 37 million inhabitants. The central policy for achieving this is Vision 2030 — a series of programmes and developments intended to diversify Saudi's economy away from fossil fuels, to offset the country's poor human-rights reputation, and to appease its rapidly-growing and young population. The majority of Saudi's geopolitical activity can and should be viewed through this prism. Sport has become one of Vision 2030's pillars — and the 2034 World Cup will be its crowning glory.
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Saudi official denies reports alcohol ban will be lifted
Saudi Arabia has denied reports that it will lift its decades-long ban on alcohol. A Saudi official refuted claims circulating in international media, originating from a wine blog, that suggested the kingdom would permit alcohol sales in tourist areas in preparation for the 2034 World Cup. The original report, which lacked sourcing, stated the change would come as the country prepares to host the global football tournament. Alcohol has been prohibited in Saudi Arabia, the birthplace of Islam, for 73 years. The once ultra-conservative kingdom has eased some restrictions to lure tourists and international businesses as part of an ambitious plan to diversify its economy and make itself less dependent on oil. While alcoholic drinks are still off limits, both Saudis and foreigners can take part in activities that were once unthinkable in the Gulf country - from dancing at desert raves to watching models at fashion shows or going to the cinema. The report about alcohol rules sparked a vigorous online debate in the kingdom, whose king also holds the title of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques - Islam's most revered places in Mecca and Medina. Saudi Arabia's de facto leader, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, known as MBS, has pushed a series of reforms, which included ending a prohibition on allowing women to drive in 2017, easing some rules on sex segregation in public spaces and reducing the power of the religious police. Saudi Arabia and Kuwait are the only Gulf countries that prohibit the sale of alcohol. A minor move to allow alcoholic drinks to be consumed in the kingdom was the opening of the first alcohol store in the capital, Riyadh, last year serving exclusively non-Muslim diplomats. Prior to that, alcohol was available only through diplomatic mail or on the black market.
The Independent
26-05-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Saudi official denies reports alcohol ban will be lifted
Saudi Arabia has denied reports that it will lift its decades-long ban on alcohol. A Saudi official refuted claims circulating in international media, originating from a wine blog, that suggested the kingdom would permit alcohol sales in tourist areas in preparation for the 2034 World Cup. The original report, which lacked sourcing, stated the change would come as the country prepares to host the global football tournament. Alcohol has been prohibited in Saudi Arabia, the birthplace of Islam, for 73 years. The once ultra-conservative kingdom has eased some restrictions to lure tourists and international businesses as part of an ambitious plan to diversify its economy and make itself less dependent on oil. While alcoholic drinks are still off limits, both Saudis and foreigners can take part in activities that were once unthinkable in the Gulf country - from dancing at desert raves to watching models at fashion shows or going to the cinema. The report about alcohol rules sparked a vigorous online debate in the kingdom, whose king also holds the title of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques - Islam's most revered places in Mecca and Medina. Saudi Arabia's de facto leader, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, known as MBS, has pushed a series of reforms, which included ending a prohibition on allowing women to drive in 2017, easing some rules on sex segregation in public spaces and reducing the power of the religious police. Saudi Arabia and Kuwait are the only Gulf countries that prohibit the sale of alcohol. A minor move to allow alcoholic drinks to be consumed in the kingdom was the opening of the first alcohol store in the capital, Riyadh, last year serving exclusively non-Muslim diplomats. Prior to that, alcohol was available only through diplomatic mail or on the black market.
Telegraph
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Telegraph
Saudi Arabia denies plans to relax alcohol laws for World Cup
Saudi Arabia has denied reports that it would lift its long-standing alcohol ban when it hosts the World Cup in 2034. A Saudi official said on Monday that no alcohol would be sold at the tournament in line with existing law. Several media outlets cited unnamed government sources as saying that beer and wine could be available at licensed venues, including luxury hotels, five-star resorts, and major tourist developments. The reports said the move was part of an effort to compete with other Gulf destinations, like Dubai and Bahrain, for tourists and help diversify its economy away from oil. However, while Saudi Arabia has relaxed some of its religious laws in recent years under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's reform agenda – such as allowing women to drive – alcohol remains taboo. The country adheres to a strict interpretation of Islamic law called Shariah and makes alcohol illegal for Muslims and non-Muslims living in the kingdom. The speculation that an exemption would have been made for the football appears to have stemmed from a little-known wine blog and sparked widespread debate online inside the conservative kingdom. The issue is highly sensitive inside the desert monarchy, where the king holds the title of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques in Mecca and Medina – Islam's most sacred sites. However, other Gulf monarchies have been easing some restrictions as they attempt to attract western tourists. Saudi Arabia and Kuwait are the only Gulf countries that still prohibit its sale, though in early 2024, Riyadh opened its first alcohol shop exclusively for non-Muslim diplomats. Previously, alcohol was accessible only via diplomatic mail or on the black market. Prince Khalid bin Bandar bin Sultan Al Saud, Saudi ambassador to the UK, had already dashed hopes in February that football fans would be able to see the games with a drink in hand. 'Rather like our weather, it's a dry country,' he said. 'Everyone has their own culture, and we're happy to accommodate people within the boundaries of ours, but we don't want to change our culture for someone else,' he said. At the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the hosts initially agreed to permit beer sales in stadiums but caused consternation among fans by reversing the decision shortly before the tournament began.
