Saudi Arabia has officially confirmed that alcohol will be completely banned during the 2034 FIFA World Cup, with no exceptions—even in hotels.

Prince Khalid bin Bandar Al Saud, the country's ambassador to the United Kingdom, made it clear that Saudi Arabia will maintain its strict alcohol policies throughout the tournament.

Saudi Arabia Stands Firm on Alcohol Ban

Saudi Arabia Confirms 2034 FIFA World Cup Alcohol-Free Saudi Arabia Confirms 2034 FIFA World Cup Alcohol-Free
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Speaking to LBC via a Daily Mail report, Prince Khalid reiterated that the kingdom does not allow alcohol, emphasizing that "plenty of fun can be had without alcohol." He firmly stated that fans looking to consume alcohol will have to wait until they leave the country.

Unlike Qatar's 2022 World Cup, where alcohol was available in select fan zones and hotel bars, Saudi Arabia will not permit alcohol sales in any form.

"No, there is no alcohol at all," the ambassador confirmed when asked if drinks would be available in hotels.

"At least they aren't pretending this time, unlike Qatar who said alcohol would be allowed and then said no, two days before the tournament started," one Reddit user wrote about the Saudi World Cup alcohol ban.

"To be fair, Qatar is a lot more lax with alcohol than Saudi. In Qatar you can buy it in licensed places whereas in Saudi it's an outright blanket ban," another Redditor said.

Respecting Cultural Boundaries

Prince Khalid said that Saudi Arabia will accommodate visitors within the boundaries of its own culture.

"Everyone has their own culture. We're happy to accommodate people within the boundaries of our culture, but we don't want to change our culture for someone else," he said.

By now, you should know that the country is strict in its implementation where alcohol consumption and sales are strictly prohibited.

Concerns Over Human Rights and Sportswashing

Beyond the alcohol ban, Saudi Arabia's human rights record has also drawn global scrutiny. Organizations like Amnesty International have raised concerns about potential human rights violations related to the World Cup.

According to BBC, issues such as the country's stance on LGBTQ+ rights have been widely debated. Same-sex relations remain illegal in Saudi Arabia, and being transgender is not recognized.

However, Prince Khalid assured that all fans would be welcomed to the tournament. He said that it's not all about Saudi and everyone is welcome to watch the world event.

Comparison to Qatar's 2022 World Cup

The controversy surrounding alcohol restrictions is not new. During Qatar's 2022 World Cup, an initial decision to sell beer in stadiums was overturned just two days before the tournament began. However, alcohol was still available in designated fan zones and hotel bars.

Saudi Arabia, on the other hand, is taking a much stricter approach, confirming that no alcohol will be available anywhere during the 2034 event.

The 2034 World Cup in Saudi Arabia is already generating headlines with its alcohol ban and cultural restrictions. For booze lovers, this might not be the perfect sports event to carry your beer and wines, but it won't hurt a soul if you do it elsewhere.