bonus365 2034 FIFA World Cup Alcohol Ban: Saudi Ambassador Says Fans Are Welcome Within 'Boundaries Of Culture'

Saudi Arabia National Football Team.Photo: X | FIFA World CupSaudi Arabia National Football Team.Photo: X | FIFA World Cup

The 2034 FIFA World Cup to be held in Saudi Arabia will be entirely alcohol-free as the ambassador Prince Khalid bin Bandar Al Saud confirmed it to the United Kingdom on Wednesday. (More Football News)

The nation is poised to maintain its longstanding prohibition on alcohol during the World Cup at all venues and hotels.

"Plenty of fun can be had without alcohol - it's not 100 per cent necessary and if you want to drink after you leave, you're welcome to, but at the moment we don't have alcohol," Khalid bin Bandar said in an interview with LBC.

Alcohol, which has been banned in Saudi Arabia since 1952 due to Islamic prohibitions, was also restricted at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, where drinking in public is illegal. While alcohol was not sold at stadiums, fans could still find beer at select hotels during the tournament.

However, in 2034, alcohol will be completely banned. Unlike in Qatar, where fans could find beer at select hotels, there will be no alcohol available anywhere in Saudi Arabia, even at accommodations. "There is no alcohol at all," confirmed Prince Khalid.

"Rather like our weather, it's a dry country. Everyone has their own culture. We're happy to accommodate people within the boundaries of our culture but we don’t want to change our culture for someone else,pagtaya casino" the ambassador added.

LGBTQ Fans Are Welcomed

This raises questions about whether LGBTQ+ fans will be truly welcomed, as same-sex relationships remain illegal in the kingdom. However, Prince Khalid responded, "We will welcome everyone in Saudi."

"It is not a Saudi event, it is a world event. And to a large extent, we will welcome everyone who wants to come," he added.

mulan slot Sportswashing' Allegations On Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia's hosting of the 2034 FIFA World Cup remains highly controversial due to several key factors. Critics argue that the nation is using the World Cup to improve its global image and distract from domestic issues such--a practice known as "sportswashing."

In the recent years, Saudi Arabia has invested massively in sports, including LIV Golf, Formula 1, and club football the Saudi Pro League)

The human rights records in the oil-producing kingdom face widespread criticism. They have restrictions on free speech, gender equality issues, andalso the criminalization of LGBTQ+ identities. People can be even sentenced to death for engaging in same-sex sexual acts as understood by Amnesty.

These two teams are meeting for the first time in the tournament in pool stage.

Amnesty is an international organization that promotes and defends human rights and dignity.

The fact that Saudi Arabia is not a traditional football powerhouse has also drawn criticism. The nation lacks a deep footballing heritage and does not yet have World Cup-level infrastructure. To address thisbonus365, Saudi Arabia has pledged to build or refurbish 15 stadiums by 2032 as part of its World Cup preparations.