Saudi Arabia makes controversial alcohol decision for 2034 World Cup with FIFA wary of embarrassing u-turn

Football fans planning to head to Saudi Arabia for the World Cup in 2034 and who were seeking to drink alcohol at games have been given an update after the Middle Eastern nation appears to have made a decision on the subject.

The 2034 tournament will be the second time the World Cup has taken place in the Middle East, following the 2022 tournament in Qatar, which was played in the winter months of November and December and not its usual summer slot due to the swelteringly hot temperatures in June and July.

On that occasion, Argentina won the trophy for the third time after beating France 4-2 on penalties, following a 3-3 draw after extra-time in Lusail, and will defend their title in 2026.

The 2026 tournament will be held across the USA, Canada and Mexico, while the hosts for both the 2030 and 2034 tournaments were recently confirmed.

The 2030 World Cup will principally be hosted across Spain, Portugal and Morocco, though there will be matches in Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay to commemorate the tournament's 100th anniversary.

It will also be the first time where countries from across two continents host the famous tournament.

And earlier this month, it was confirmed that Saudi Arabia will be the hosts of the 2034 tournament after its bid went uncontested - with the continents of Asia and Oceania restricted as the only ones permitted to bid on this occasion.

Saudi Arabia will host the 2034 World Cup. (Image: Getty)

The game in Saudi Arabia has grown in profile in the past few years thanks to stars flocking to the Middle Eastern nation to play in the very lucrative Saudi Pro League, with Cristiano Ronaldo moving to Al Nassr following his Manchester United departure possibly the most popular transfer.

The previous World Cup in Qatar saw a backtrack in alcohol sales in stadiums after a plan to do so was shelved a matter of days before the tournament began.

And The Guardian now reports the same is set to happen in Saudi Arabia by claiming fans will not be allowed to drink alcohol within stadiums at the 2034 tournament.

Though FIFA has not publicly commented on the subject, sources have told the newspaper that beer will not be sold at matches and local laws will not be relaxed.

The Middle Eastern nation has banned alcohol since 1952, with only one shop in Riyadh selling it under strict quotas and controls to non-Muslim diplomats.

The report reads: "Football fans will be banned from drinking alcohol in stadiums at the 2034 World Cup after last week’s controversial award of the tournament to Saudi Arabia.

"Fifa has not addressed the alcohol issue publicly but senior sources have told the Guardian there is no question of beer being sold at matches. Unlike in many other Muslim countries alcohol sales remain prohibited even in luxury hotels in Saudi Arabia.

"Fifa sources said they had learned lessons from the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, which was pressured to accept beer sales in stadiums only for the ruling Al-Thani family to put their foot down and scrap the plan two days before the tournament started."