FIFA Club World Cup scheduled to start next month; Prince Abdulaziz stated that Saudi Arabia is all set to host the greatest football event

Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal, the Saudi Minister of Sports, has touted the economic and sports potential of the Kingdom's hosting of the FIFA World Cup in 2034 and asserted that his nation is prepared to play host to the largest athletic event in history.

In an interview with the BBC, he brought up the possibility of the Kingdom holding the tournament in the summer as opposed to the winter, talked about the advancements achieved by the Saudi Pro League, and acknowledged the value of sport in a nation where the majority of people are under thirty. Over £5 billion ($6.26 billion) in sports investments have been made by the government since 2021 as part of the Vision 2030 goal to diversify the economy and wean it off of fossil fuels.

Prince Abdulaziz stated that Saudi Arabia is more than prepared to host the greatest football competition, with the FIFA Club World Cup scheduled to start in the Kingdom next month. High-profile Formula 1 races, ATP tennis events, and boxing fights have all taken place in Saudi Arabia since 2021. The Public Investment Fund created a stir when it acquired Newcastle United, a Premier League team, and launched the LIV Golf Tour.

He went on to say that the neighbouring Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup—which had to be hosted in the winter to avoid extreme heat—would serve as a lesson. According to him, Saudi Arabia is "definitely" investigating the possibility of holding a competition in the summer.

He spoke on the development of football in the Kingdom, which has gained international attention because prominent players like Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, and Neymar joined the Saudi Pro League earlier this year for a reported £750 million.

Football is becoming more and more popular at the grassroots level as well; across the Kingdom, over 70,000 women and girls routinely participate in the sport.