He is seen as the second-most powerful individual in world football, after the Fifa president, Gianni Infantino. Smaller competitions have also been threatened, with the status of next month’s Artistic Gymnastics World Cup and the GCC Games, a regional multi-sport event, in May still unconfirmed. The stadium also hosted the 2022 World Cup final. However, much like the construction companies and architects tasked with building 11 new stadiums for the World Cup, it is almost entirely dependent on imported labour. View image in fullscreen A fireworks display above Riyadh after it was announced that Saudi Arabia would host the 2034 World Cup.

Source: The Guardian March 21, 2026 09:01 UTC