13 February 2025
Saudi Arabia's ambassador to London, Prince Khalid bin Bandar Al Saud, announced that alcohol will not be allowed during the 2034 World Cup in Saudi Arabia. Prince Khalid bin Bandar Al Saud said that alcohol will not be sold anywhere during the tournament, including hotels, in statements reported by the British newspaper "The Times".
He continued: "There is no alcohol here at all. Things will be dry like the weather of our country, everyone has their own culture, and we are happy to host people within the boundaries of our culture, but we do not change our culture for someone else."
The ambassador added that people who want to drink alcohol can do so outside the country.
He stressed that Saudi Arabia will be happy to host visitors within the framework of its own culture, asking: "Can't you live without drinking alcohol?" He added: "The fans can be happy and enjoy themselves without alcohol, it is not 100% necessary, and if someone wants to drink after leaving, they are welcome, but at the moment, drinking alcohol is not allowed."
Asked about allowing fans to drink alcohol after matches after returning to their hotels, as was the case in the Qatar 2022 World Cup, the Saudi ambassador replied, "No, there is no alcohol at all."
He concluded his statements by saying, "The World Cup is not a Saudi event, but a global event, and we welcome everyone who wants to attend."
It is worth noting that Qatar, which hosted the 2022 World Cup, imposed restrictions on the sale of alcohol in stadiums after pressure from local authorities, as the sale of beer was banned in the stands, while alcohol was available in designated fan areas and other licensed places.
