Saudi Arabia consider scheduling football’s 2034 World Cup in SUMMER, despite extreme 50C heat, as they weigh up in-stadium air conditioning

Saudi Arabia are weighing up holding the 2034 World Cup in summer, despite the extreme heats expected in the Middle East at that point in the year.

The Gulf State won the race to host football’s greatest competition after FIFA made the shock announcement that the bidding process for 2034 would take place at the same time as the one for 2030 on October 4. 

Potential bidders were only given until October 31 to register interest. Within minutes, Saudi’s Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman announced that the kingdom would bid.

Questions were however raised at the tight deadline for the bidding process, and after Australia bowed out of the running Saudi Arabia was confirmed as the sole hat left in the ring.

It marked the latest in a swathe of movements from the nation to make itself one of the key sporting centres of the world, now adding international football to the likes of golf, boxing and Formula One in a growing roster of major events.  

After Australia dropped out of the running the Gulf State were confirmed as the sole bidders 

Lionel Messi’s Argentina are the reigning champions having won in nearby Qatar last winter

Despite question marks hanging over the timing of the tournament in the football calendar, Saudi Arabia’s sports minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal suggested that a summer competition could still go ahead, despite the heat.

‘I don’t know to be honest. Definitely, we are studying both options, to see which is the best option to host the World Cup.’

When asked whether it was possible to play in the heats expected – which could rise as high as 50 degrees celsius – he added: ‘Hopefully we will find out. Definitely we will work to make sure it is the best World Cup to ever be hosted. ‘

‘Why not see what the possibilities are to do it in the summer? Whether it is summer or winter it doesn’t matter for us, as long as we make sure that we [deliver] the right atmosphere to host such an event.’

The summer months in Saudi Arabia regularly experience heat north of 40 degrees celsius, and occasionally as high as 50. 

The Saudi Pro League in fact avoids running around this time as a result, with Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar Jnr and Co even regularly playing at night to further reduce the risk of health issues as a result of the weather. 

The last World Cup, in nearby Qatar, was of course hosted in the Winter, running until mid-December, although this raised further questions over player burnout. 

The concept of in-stadium air-conditioning was utilised in Qatar, although whether or not that raises further environmental issues remains to be seen, if it is a route that Saudi Arabia chooses to go down in 11 years time.  

Saudi Arabia’s sports minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal suggested that a summer competition could still go ahead

Yasser al-Misehal hinted that Saudi Arabia could look at ‘new technologies’ to help with cooling

It would seem, though, that it is, judging by the words of Saudi Arabian Football Federation president Yasser al-Misehal, who last month suggested looking at methods previously unused by Qatar.

‘Today there are many new technologies that help you with cooling or adding air conditioners in stadiums, in addition to the fact that there are many cities in the kingdom that enjoy a very wonderful atmosphere in the summer.’

Despite the confidence from figures involved in the push to host the tournament, it remains that the 2034 World Cup might be a problematic one. 

Should the tournament go ahead in winter instead, that would still raise eyebrows given the increase in injuries suffered by players as a result of the rise in matches being played, especially with plans to expand competitions like the Club World Cup.