Fans attending the 2034 World Cup in Saudi Arabia will not be able to purchase or consume alcohol during the tournament, the country’s ambassador to the United Kingdom has confirmed.
Speaking in an interview with LBC, Prince Khalid bin Bandar Al Saud stated that alcohol sales would be completely prohibited, including in hotels.
Following FIFA’s confirmation that Saudi Arabia will host the 2034 men’s World Cup, Prince Khalid made it clear that the country’s stance on alcohol would remain unchanged.
“At the moment, we don’t allow alcohol,” he said.
“Plenty of fun can be had without alcohol – it’s not 100% necessary and if you want to drink after you leave, you’re welcome to, but at the moment we don’t have alcohol.”
When asked whether fans would be permitted to drink in hotel bars, as was allowed at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, he reiterated: “No, there is no alcohol at all. 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.”
The logistics of alcohol at the 2034 World Cup in Saudi Arabia has been confirmed.#BBCFootball pic.twitter.com/LXNbLWF63J
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) February 12, 2025
The question of alcohol availability was a major topic leading up to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, another Muslim-majority nation with strict alcohol regulations.
Initially, Qatar had planned to allow alcohol sales at stadiums, but that decision was reversed just days before the tournament began. However, fans were still able to purchase alcoholic beverages in designated fan zones and select hotel bars.
Saudi Arabia, however, appears to be taking a firmer stance by enforcing a complete ban on alcohol throughout the event.
Their stance on human rights has also been a subject of global scrutiny, particularly concerning LGBTQ+ rights. Same-sex relationships are illegal in the country, and transgender identities are not officially recognised. Despite this, Prince Khalid assured that everyone would be welcome at the tournament.
He added: “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.”
Saudi Arabia has faced allegations of using its growing involvement in global sports as a means of “sportswashing” – an effort to improve its international image amid concerns over human rights and environmental policies.
The nation has invested heavily in sports, including football, boxing, and Formula 1, raising questions about its broader intentions.