Saudi Arabia to be named as 2034 World Cup hosts – but questions still hang over ‘bidding’ process
Football has never seen a stadium as audacious and outlandish before.
A futuristic cliff-top venue will be built 350m above ground when the $1.5trn NEOM megaproject springs up from the Saudi Arabian desert.
There are no limits on ambition or spending to bring the World Cup to the kingdom in 2034 – and no need to win a bidding contest.
After flattering and funding FIFA, Saudi Arabia will today be confirmed as hosts of the 2034 World Cup by acclamation of football nations rather than a vote.
Read more:
FIFA awarding World Cups ‘without transparency’
FIFA has ‘not changed its decision-making’
It is the rapid conclusion to a 14-month process engineered to secure their victory but a strategic success for the kingdom in avoiding a protracted contest.
And scrutiny of the fast-tracked process – ending at a virtual FIFA Congress – has diminished the spotlight on discriminatory laws, human rights violations and working conditions as 15 stadiums are built for its biggest sporting spectacle.
But FIFA endorses the Saudi view that a World Cup can be a catalyst for change by introducing labour reforms and providing more rights for women.
Bid leader Hammad Albalawi insists: “We are a young nation seizing this opportunity.”
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and FIFA President Gianni Infantino pictured at the 2018 World Cup. Pic: Alexei Nikolsky/Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP
An opportunity that has been facilitated by Gianni Infantino; the Saudis knowing the touch-points to pander to the globe-trotting FIFA president who collects photos for Instagram alongside the powerful and wealthy.
No country – where FIFA does not have offices – has been visited more by him in recent years.
By contrast, he never seemed to visit Australia before it hosted the Women’s World Cup in 2023 to check on preparations.
Even in the midst of Switzerland’s pandemic restrictions, when non-essential travel was advised against from FIFA’s base, Mr Infantino went to Saudi in early 2021 to be filmed talking up the oil-rich country in a government PR video, in a ceremonial sword dance around palaces of Diriyah.
It was clear where his priorities were as the Saudis proved savvy at winning over the governing body holding the keys to the World Cup hosting.
Mr Infantino skipped FIFA’s own large video gaming tournament in Liverpool this August to launch Saudi’s Esports World Cup in Riyadh alongside Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
That was before FIFA officially launched the 2034 bidding process.
And Mr Infantino has not held a single open news conference in the year since being accused of rigging the bidding process to help the Saudis – denying journalists the chance to put the claims to him directly.
On the face of it, Mr Infantino can claim to have introduced a more open and transparent bidding process than his predecessors oversaw with published inspection reports and scoring.
There was also the ability for any country to enter – as long as you were from the Asia or Oceania regions.
And only if you could decide in less than four weeks whether your country could handle and fund a 48-team tournament with 104 matches – beyond nations with an electorate to consider and budgets to balance.
It was all assisted by a behind-the-scenes secret deal that knocked Europe, Africa and South America out of contention – combining their six countries bidding for the 2030 World Cup into a single, unprecedented mammoth tournament plan.
Read more:
Club World Cup: FIFA threatened with legal action by players and leagues
Gianni Infantino: 33% pay rise for FIFA boss who told women they must ‘force change’
Those regions then became ineligible to try to host the 2034 tournament.
So all paths – like so many in sport – now lead to Riyadh in 2034.
For Mark Pieth, who advised Sepp Blatter’s FIFA on anti-corruption and governance changes, it is all a “turn for the worse”.
The Swiss law professor told Sky News: “We tried to reform FIFA. What we’re now seeing is quite abominable.
“You have FIFA trying to break all the rules that they’ve given themselves, starting with deciding on two World Cups at the same time, no competition, manipulated reports and finally acclamation instead of a vote.”
The rigging claim would be disputed by FIFA, which yesterday said auditors BDO “concluded that both evaluation processes were executed with objectivity, integrity and transparency”.
Newcastle United fans celebrate the Saudi takeover in 2021. Pic: AP
There has been little dissent across world football – even countries like Germany that took a vocal stand against Qatar while insisting they would not “gloss over” Saudi issues.
The English Football Association has been deliberating over whether to provide a public position on Saudi – a delicate balancing act while considering a future Women’s World Cup bid and needing FIFA on side.
And the FA speaking out on Saudi – if not the FIFA process – would put it at odds with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer who was in Riyadh this week for talks with the crown prince.
But one country that has led the charge against FIFA is Norway.
Their football association head, Lise Klaveness, first broke ranks to tell Sky News: “When decisions are made in closed rooms, it’s the opposite of what the reforms were promising us.”
And on Tuesday she confirmed Norway would attempt to abstain – although FIFA is set to avoid a vote.
The King Abdullah sports city stadium, in Jiddah, Saudi Arabia. Pic: AP Photo/Hassan Ammar
She said: “The lack of predictability and open processes challenges trust in FIFA as the global custodian of football.”
It was Mr Infantino who was swept to power after the discredited Blatter reign ended in a wave of convictions of football officials after raids in 2015.
And the former general secretary at European governing body UEFA even sat on the reform committee that attempted to curb the powers of FIFA presidents before he ascended to that position himself and adjusted term limits to remain in post longer.
Miguel Maduro, who was forced out as governance chief by Mr Infantino, told Sky News: “They promised a much higher degree of transparency on how the bidding was going to take place. We saw nothing of that type in this process.
“Basically, it is something that was cooked internally, within what I usually call the political cartel that dominates FIFA.”
The pick cannot be reversed.
But there can be moves to protect the conditions of the migrant workforce – already said by Human Rights Watch to exceed 13 million in Saudi – as 15 stadiums and vast wider infrastructure is built up.
Despite none of the stadiums being complete yet, FIFA still gave the Saudis the highest scoring since the inspection process was introduced for World Cup bidding by Mr Infantino.
FIFA’s inspection report did express concerns about “indecent working conditions” and found gaps complying with “international standards” that “contradict Islamic law”.
There are assurances fans will face no discrimination but anti-LGBTQ+ laws remain – a red line the conservative nation cannot cross and unmentioned in the mandatory human rights risk assessment.
Tyson Fury fights Oleksandr Usyk at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in May. P:ic: AP Photo/Francisco Seco
But football is far from the first sport to be seduced by the Saudi riches – helping them cleanse the country’s image and distract from rights issues.
Boxing’s biggest bouts are now there, there has been an attempted takeover of golf by launching the rebel LIV series and a $1m golden ball was added to allow the kingdom to put its lavish imprint on snooker.
Much is bankrolled by the $900bn Public Investment Fund which has owned Newcastle United for three years.
And the sovereign wealth fund has a stake in state oil firm Aramco which became a FIFA sponsor in April.
Streaming platform DAZN, which has close ties to Saudi, seems to have bailed out FIFA’s new 32-team Club World Cup with a reported $1bn global broadcasting deal announced last week without a clear ability to recoup the cash as games air free.
No wonder dissent has been brushed aside by FIFA – even from the US where the Club World Cup will be staged next year followed by the main men’s World Cup in 2026.
Democrat senators Ron Wyden and Dick Durbin wrote to Mr Infantino in October: “The kingdom continues to torture dissidents, engage in extrajudicial killings, discriminate against the LGBTQ+ community, oppress women and religious minorities, exploit and abuse foreign workers, and restrict almost all political rights and civil liberties.”
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Khashoggi’s widow on World Cup
Argentina’s Lionel Messi lifts the World Cup in Qatar. Pic: AP
Read more:
Football’s complex relationship with conflict and tragedy
FIFA considering lifting blanket ban on Russia
For many in football – particularly domestic leagues – the bigger concern will be the impact on the calendar.
There are no commitments to stage the tournament in the typical June-July slot, with January-February 2034 looking more likely to avoid clashing with Ramadan and the Hajj.
Qatar 2022’s November-December slot showed how football can accommodate a switch without long-term damage to the club game.
But the message from within Saudi is they are a very different proposition to the first Middle East hosts – even if this World Cup pick is as controversial.
Where Qatar still lacks a vibrant local football culture, Saudi is home to Asia’s most successful team – Al Hilal.
Esteve Calzada, the CEO of Al Hilal, told Sky News: “Qatar World Cup even with so much criticism, I think there is a general consensus it was ultimately a very successful World Cup.
“In our case I’m sure it will be the same. It’s a proper-sized country with passionate fans.”
Now there is a decade to convince the world’s football fans to descend on Saudi Arabia.
FIFA has delivered the sporting prize the crown prince craved in the easiest of football matches to win – one without any opponent.
World
Shein investigates after likeness of accused killer Luigi Mangione used to model shirt on fashion giant’s website
Fashion giant Shein has opened an investigation after a shirt was advertised on its site, modelled by a man bearing a striking resemblance to Luigi Mangione, who is accused of murdering a US healthcare chief executive.
The image with Mangione’s likeness, wearing a white, short-sleeved shirt, has since been taken down.
Shein, one of the world’s biggest fast fashion retailers, told Sky News: “The image in question was provided by a third-party vendor and was removed immediately upon discovery.
“We have stringent standards for all listings on our platform. We are conducting a thorough investigation, strengthening our monitoring processes, and will take appropriate action against the vendor in line with our policies.”
The listing was taken down on Wednesday afternoon, according to reports.
As news of the image spread across social media on Tuesday, and ‘Luigi Mangione Shein’ reportedly began trending, many speculated that the picture had been created by AI or photo-shopped.
Some supporters of Mangione accused Shein of using his likeness, while his critics have also described using the photo as a new low.
Mangione, 27, is facing trial for fatally shooting UnitedHealth’s insurance CEO, Brian Thompson, outside a New York City hotel in December.
UnitedHealthcare chief executive officer Brian Thompson.
Pic: UnitedHealth Group/AP
Mr Thompson, 50, was shot dead as he walked to a Manhattan hotel where the company, the largest private health insurance firm in the US, was hosting an investor conference.
Mangione denies the state and federal charges against him, including first-degree murder “in furtherance of an act of terrorism”, two counts of second-degree murder, two counts of stalking and a firearms offence.
Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty if he is convicted, saying Mangione targeted Mr Thompson and that he “presents a future danger because he expressed an intent to target an entire industry, and rally political and social opposition to that industry, by engaging in an act of lethal violence”.
After the killing, Mangione was portrayed as a folk hero by some of those opposed to the US healthcare system.
Rallies took place outside court during his appearances and some supporters pledged funds to his defence.
Read more on Sky News:
Chaos and violence on LA’s streets
China’s army of the future on show
France’s government ‘on the brink’
Shein, founded in China in 2012, has built its global reputation on inexpensive, fast-moving fashion trends that attract Gen Z and younger millennials. Its products are shipped to more than 100 countries.
In January, a senior company lawyer was unable to say if the company sells products containing cotton from Xinjiang, the region of China where it’s alleged members of the Uyghur ethnic group are forced to work against their will, accusations China denies.
Sky News has contacted Shein for comment.
At least 15 people have been killed and 18 are injured after the iconic Gloria funicular in Lisbon derailed and crashed, emergency services have said.
Five of the injured are in a serious condition, the National Institute for Medical Emergencies said in a statement.
Footage from the site showed the tram-like funicular, which is popular with tourists, practically destroyed and emergency workers pulling people out of the wreckage.
Authorities would not identify the victims or disclose their nationalities, but said some foreign nationals were among the dead.
The UK Foreign Office has said it is in touch with authorities in Lisbon and is ready to “provide consular assistance if there are any affected British nationals”.
Lisbon’s mayor Carlos Moedas has said there will be three days of mourning for the victims of the “tragic accident”.
He added: “I extend my heartfelt condolences to all the families and friends of the victims. Lisbon is in mourning.”
It is not immediately clear what caused the crash which happened at around 6pm – the start of evening rush hour.
Eyewitnesses told local media that the funicular careered down the hill, apparently out of control.
Images show how the yellow and white carriage fell apart as a result of the crash.
Pic: AP
Pic: AP
The Gloria, which can carry more than 40 people, is one of three funiculars in the Portuguese capital and is classified as a national monument.
It connects downtown Lisbon with the neighbourhood of Bairro Alto and is commonly used by both residents and tourists.
Two carriages attached to the same haulage cable run parallel to each other as they shuttle up and down the hill for a few hundred metres.
The second carriage was apparently undamaged, but footage aired by CNN Portugal showed it jolting violently, with several passengers jumping out of its windows, when the other one derailed.
Emergency services at the scene. Pic: AP
Mr Moedas told the Portuguese news site Diario de Noticia: “It is a tragedy that has never happened in our city. The moment is for action and help. I thank you all for the response in a few minutes. The only thing I can say is that it is a very tragic day.”
It comes as Portugal’s President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa has offered his condolences to families affected by the tragedy.
Meanwhile EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen has written on X: “It is with sadness that I learned of the derailment of the famous ‘Elevador da Glória’. My condolences to the families of the victims.”
Portugal’s defence minister Nuno Melo said: “The accident in Lisbon with the Gloria elevator was a tragedy that caused strong commotion and consternation in Portugal and in the world… I express all my solidarity and offer heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims, wishing a speedy recovery to the injured.”
An investigation into the cause will begin once the rescue operation is over, the Portuguese government said in a statement.
This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly.
Please refresh the page for the latest version.
You can receive breaking news alerts on a smartphone or tablet via the Sky News app. You can also follow us on WhatsApp and subscribe to our YouTube channel to keep up with the latest news.
China’s status as a military superpower was on full display as Beijing marked the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War.
Tens of thousands of troops, tanks and armoured vehicles moved through Tiananmen Square on Wednesday, along with a fearsome array of missiles. Fighter jets soared overhead.
While ostensibly a day to mark the decades since the end of the world’s biggest war, it’s clear that Xi Jinping was looking towards the future in the message he sent to the West.
“They want to advertise to the world that they’re doing old and new,” military analyst Michael Clarke told Sky News. “So they were showing the enormity of what they’ve got in in traditional terms, but also some of the new things.”
Indeed, the event featured many weapons and equipment that had never been seen in public before.
In this story, Sky News looks at what units and military hardware were on display in the Chinese capital.
Flags flutter as soldiers participate in a military parade to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. Pic: Reuters
Land forces
Huge numbers of soldiers from various wings of China’s armed forces made up the bulk of the parade, marching in perfect lockstep in neat rows.
As well as the traditional elements from the army and navy, the procession also featured newer pieces like the cyberspace unit.
The new unit is in charge of cybersecurity defence measures, the Xinhua state news agency says, and also took part in live-fire drills.
Another new unit was the information support force, which was created in 2024 to build network information systems to support military combat readiness.
Tanks as part of the military parade
Nuclear triad on display for the first time
Also rolling through the square were an array of missiles, including those that form China’s strategic nuclear capability.
For the first time, Beijing unveiled its nuclear triad of air, land and sea-based missiles.
This included the JL-1 air-based long-range missile, JL-3 submarine-launched intercontinental missile, DF-61 land-based intercontinental missile, and the new type DF-31 land-based intercontinental missile.
The weapons are China’s strategic “ace” power to safeguard the country’s sovereignty and nation’s dignity, according to Xinhua.
China is one of four countries known to possess a nuclear triad, along with the US, Russia and India.
YJ-17 hypersonic anti-ship missiles. Pic: Reuters
Other missiles on display included hypersonic anti-ship missiles that China has previously tested against mockups of US aircraft carriers, such as the Yingji-19, Yingji-17 and Yingji-20.
“These are designed to frighten the United States,” Mr Clarke says, with reference to the Pacific Ocean where US warships patrol from their 7th Fleet headquarters in Japan.
Read more:
Analysis: President Xi’s message to the West
How China’s parade compares to other military spectacles
Drones and robot wolves
China also put a number of its unmanned weapon systems on display, evidence of the changing nature of modern warfare.
Arguably the most interesting were the so-called ‘robot wolves’.
‘Robot wolves’ carried on vehicles
There were also underwater drones such as the AJX002, a long, black tube-shaped craft that looks like a narrow submarine with a rear propeller.
The military also showed off unmanned helicopters that are designed to be launched from ships.
Air-defence laser weapons that have been recently developed. Pic: Reuters
Like other militaries, China has also been developing laser weapons to defend against drone attacks – one of which was on display today as well.
As attack drones get more advanced – and numerous – a counter drive to develop cheaper ways of shooting them down is ongoing.
“The one that they kept under wraps was this laser gun,” Mr Clarke said. “It was all under tarpaulin in the rehearsals – and suddenly there it was. It was like a big searchlight on a vehicle.
“Laser guns, despite James Bond films, are not quite as ground-breaking as people think, but there it was: a new laser gun.”
Air force
Beijing has developed a number of advanced aircraft in recent years, and several of them were on display on Wednesday.
Soaring above the parade were China’s two fifth-generation fighter jets, the Chengdu J-20 and Shenyang J-35A.
J-16D, J-20, and J-35A fighter jets fly over Tiananmen Square. Pic: Reuters
Both have stealth capabilities and are designed to try to rival the US air force’s F-35 jet.
China has two of the five fifth-generation fighter jets currently known to operate globally. The others are the American F-35 (also operated by the UK and other allies) and F-22, as well as the Russian Su-57.
China showing off its range – and numbers
“What they’re showing here is that they’ve got a full panoply of weapons systems,” Mr Clarke says, pointing to the various land, sea and air assets.
“Whether they can link them together in combined arms warfare, we don’t know, because they haven’t fought a major war since the 1950s… but on paper it’s extremely impressive.”
He added: “It’s not as big as the American military yet, but it certainly rivals it. And it certainly worries American military planners.”
-
Sports3 years ago‘Storybook stuff’: Inside the night Bryce Harper sent the Phillies to the World Series
-
Sports1 year agoStory injured on diving stop, exits Red Sox game
-
Sports2 years agoGame 1 of WS least-watched in recorded history
-
Sports2 years agoMLB Rank 2023: Ranking baseball’s top 100 players
-
Sports4 years ago
Team Europe easily wins 4th straight Laver Cup
-
Sports2 years agoButton battles heat exhaustion in NASCAR debut
-
Environment2 years agoJapan and South Korea have a lot at stake in a free and open South China Sea
-
Environment11 months agoHere are the best electric bikes you can buy at every price level in October 2024