Saudi Arabia considering hosting FIFA World Cup 2034 during summer despite 50C heat

The 2022 World Cup in Qatar took place in winter due to the extreme heat 

Notwithstanding the intense heat that is predicted in the Middle East at that time of year, Saudi Arabia are considering hosting the FIFA World Cup 2034 in the summer.

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The Gulf State emerged victorious in the competition to host the biggest football tournament after FIFA shockingly revealed on October 4 that the bidding process for 2034 will coincide with the 2030 competition.

The deadline for registering interest was October 31 for prospective bidders. Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman declared the government would submit a bid in a matter of minutes.

However, concerns were expressed regarding the short notice of the bidding process and Saudi Arabia’s confirmation as the only remaining contender when Australia withdrew from the competition.

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It was the most recent in a string of initiatives by the country to establish itself as one of the major global hubs for sports, joining Formula One, Golf, Boxing, and Football on an expanding schedule of important events.

Saudi Arabia’s sports minister, Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal, said that a summer tournament might still take place despite uncertainty surrounding the tournament’s scheduling in the football season.

‘I don’t know to be honest. Definitely, we are studying both options, to see which is the best option to host the World Cup.’ Hopefully we will find out. Definitely we will work to make sure it is the best World Cup to ever be hosted. ‘

‘Why not see what the possibilities are to do it in the summer? Whether it is summer or winter it doesn’t matter for us, as long as we make sure that we [deliver] the right atmosphere to host such an event.’

Saudi Arabia typically has summertime temperatures of 40 degrees Celsius, with sporadic highs of 50.

Because of this, the Saudi Pro League really stays away from this period, with players like Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar Jr., and Co. frequently playing at night to further lower the chance of health problems brought on by the weather.

Naturally, the most recent World Cup in neighbouring Qatar was place in the winter, lasting until mid-December, but this also sparked concerns about player burnout.

In-stadium cooling was a notion used in Qatar; however, if Saudi Arabia decides to pursue this path in eleven years, it has to be seen to determine if it presents further environmental concerns.

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