Saudi Arabia bans alcohol for 2034 FIFA World Cup

Saudi Arabias ambassador to the United Kingdom, Prince Khalid bin Bandar Al Saud, has confirmed that alcohol will not be permitted at the 2034 FIFA World Cup, reinforcing the kingdoms strict stance on the substance.Speaking in an interview on LBC, Prince Khalid stated that alcohol would not be available anywhere during the tournament, including in hotels.At the moment, we don't allow alcohol. Plenty of fun can be had without alcoholit's not 100% necessary. If you want to drink after you leave, you're welcome to, but at the moment we don't have alcohol, he said.When asked if fans could consume alcohol in hotels, as was allowed during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, he responded:No, there is no alcohol at all. Rather like our weather, it's a dry country.The ban follows a similar debate ahead of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where alcohol sales were initially planned for stadiums but later restricted to designated fan zones and hotels.Prince Khalid also addressed concerns regarding Saudi Arabias human rights record and the countrys policies on same-sex relations and gender identity, stating:We will welcome everyone in Saudi. It is not a Saudi event, it is a world event, and we will welcome everyone who wants to come.However, human rights groups, including Amnesty International, have expressed concerns about the potential for rights violations, accusing Saudi Arabia of using its growing investment in sports to improve its global image. Read Full Story