That Saudi Arabia would get the hosting rights for the 2034 FIFA World Cup was a foregone conclusion once it became clear that the world governing body itself was going out of its way to ensure that particular outcome. Recent history suggests that when the ruling establishment in the desert kingdom intends to get something, especially in the realm of sport, it usually gets its way.

Hence, despite the last edition being held in the Gulf region just two years ago, FIFA’s showpiece event will be held in Qatar’s immediate neighbourhood after another dozen years.

It shows the sort of influence and power Saudi Arabia has cultivated in the world of sport that there were no competing bids when the decision was made. The 2026 World Cup will be held in North America and will be jointly hosted in three continents – Europe, Africa and South America in 2030 – the centennial year of the World Cup. 

That left only Oceania as a region, and Australia had expressed interest in bidding for 2036. However, the bidding process was unexpectedly sped up, giving interested parties only 25 days for interested parties to express interest. It wasn’t enough time for Australia to present a viable bid and they had no option but to pull out of the race, leaving Saudi Arabia to be chosen unopposed. It’s said that FIFA president Gianni Infantino was engaged in private diplomacy on Saudi Arabia’s behalf.    

Football, tennis, motorsport, golf and even cricket, the Saudi ruling family has been extending its footprint across the sporting world, mainly through the Public Investment Fund (PIF). Since the 2022 World Cup, some of the most high-profile footballers in the world – such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, Neymar, Sadio Mane and Riyad Mahrez – have moved to the Saudi professional league for huge transfer fees and eye-catching salaries.

These stars have often functioned as brand ambassadors of the Saudi bid, raising the country’s profile as a major sporting destination. PIF took a 75 per cent stake in the four founding member clubs of the domestic league – Al Ahli, Al Ittihad, Al Nassr and Al Hilal – in June 2023. The acquisition of Premier League club Newcastle United is also a major achievement for the country’s ruling family – again executed through the PIF.

The season-ending women’s tennis championship has found a new home in Saudi Arabia, even though women in that country are not allowed the right to practice the sport. Several high-profile boxing bouts have taken place there as well as a Formula One race since 2021. Even the latest IPL mega auction was held in Jeddah.

The PIF-backed LIV golf tour has been such a disruptor on the landscape of golf that the PGA Tour, the erstwhile holy grail for all players, is still reeling from the blow as many of its top players have jumped ship for much bigger pay packets for much less exertion. There have been efforts for a patch-up between the two parties, but the situation on the ground hasn’t changed.

Constant criticism

All this has been achieved while there have been accusations of ‘sportswashing’ from various quarters – especially human rights organisations – alleging that all this is an effort to divert the attention of the world from the country’s human rights record and accusations that the assassination of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi had links to the very top of the Saudi government.

Saudi Arabia defeated eventual champions Argentina at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, but is not considered among the major powers. It sent just eight athletes to the Paris Olympics, including two women, and finished medal-less.

All these factors have seldom deterred FIFA from deciding the hosting rights of its flagship event. Russia had annexed Crimea, a region of Ukraine, when it staged the 2018 World Cup while the treatment of migrant labourers was a contentious issue in the lead-up to the 2022 edition in Qatar. Come to think of it, the language used by the president-elect of the United States, one of the co-hosts of the 2026 event, for immigrants from various Central and South American countries during his successful campaign is also not going to matter at all.

When it comes to bidding for major sporting events, money and influence talks. And Saudi Arabia has deeper pockets than most. Even FIFA and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) fall silent. It may not be a coincidence that Aramco, the Saudi state-owned oil and gas company, is one of the major FIFA partners and has a big presence on the international sports landscape.

It’s almost a given that any FIFA World Cup will be a success on the field. As soon as the first ball is kicked, everyone forgets about the contentious matters in the lead-up and focuses on the teams and the best players in the world. Hence, the world bodies may as well ignore all the criticism as outside noise, claiming – quite legitimately – that every country on earth has some or the other issues to address. The heat of the Arabian peninsula is no longer a factor considered after the event hosted in Qatar. The country is already hosting the Asian Games in late 2034.

How does it affect India?

Saudi Arabia is also one of the bidders for the 2036 Summer Olympics, which India has also expressed interest to host. Qatar is also in the fray and will add the 2030 Asian Games to its portfolio.

In contrast, Ahmedabad – expected to be the preferred host city for India – doesn’t have much experience in hosting big events. 

Saudi Arabia has been doing sports diplomacy for a long time now and has signed hundreds of sponsorship contracts across the spectrum. India – which had initially bid for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup football tournament – withdrew from the race at the last moment, handing the hosting rights to the only remaining bidder. You guessed it, Saudi Arabia!

All of it points to India’s bid for the 2036 Olympics not having an easy path, despite the upbeat utterances from the government and the Indian Olympic Association. Ahmedabad has to start from scratch, hold some lower-profile events for a start, have its infrastructure – sporting and otherwise – in order while the government and its various arms get the diplomacy channels working. In any case, realizing the dream would not be cheap. 

It all may come down to how badly Saudi Arabia, and its ruling dispensation, want the 2036 Olympics to add to the impressive bouquet of sporting mega events it already possesses.