Alcohol Will Not Be Allowed At Saudi World Cup 2034 Including At Stadiums And Hotels
13 Feb 2025
The ban on alcohol will be upheld in Saudi Arabia during the 2034 World Cup, without any exceptions for football fans flying into the nation.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has had a strict ban on alcohol since 1952, which it plans to observe despite being confirmed as the host nation for the tournament in December.
There was an expectation that the Saudi’s would comply with the precedent set by Qatar, another Muslim country, during their time hosting the event in 2022.
Supporters were able to buy alcohol from selected hotels, but not at the stadiums.
Prince Khalid bin Bandar Al Saud, ambassador to the UK told LBC that hotels, restaurants or stadiums will not be permitted to serve alcoholic beverages during the tournament.
When asked if fans would be able to buy alcohol anywhere during the tournament, the prince replied: ‘No, no. There is no alcohol at all.
‘Rather like our weather, it is a dry country. At the moment we do not allow alcohol, but you know, plenty of fun can be had without alcohol.
‘It is not 100% necessary. And you know, if you want to drink when you leave, after you leave, you are welcome to. But at the moment, we do not have alcohol.
‘Everyone has their own culture and we are happy to accommodate people within the boundaries of our culture, but we don’t want to change our culture for someone else. And I mean, really, you can’t live without a drink?’