AlUla to Host First-Ever Mideast Tough Mudder Infinity Challenge in February

The winner is awarded one of the largest financial prizes in the history of obstacle-course racing - SPA
The winner is awarded one of the largest financial prizes in the history of obstacle-course racing - SPA
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AlUla to Host First-Ever Mideast Tough Mudder Infinity Challenge in February

The winner is awarded one of the largest financial prizes in the history of obstacle-course racing - SPA
The winner is awarded one of the largest financial prizes in the history of obstacle-course racing - SPA

The world's most popular obstacle-course racing challenge, Tough Mudder, announced the launch of a Tough Mudder Infinity race for the first time in the Middle East, to be held February 24, 2024 in AlUla Governorate, one of the most prominent tourist destinations in the world.

During the eight-hour race, participants must accomplish the largest number of laps around the Tough Mudder obstacle course. The winner is awarded one of the largest financial prizes in the history of obstacle-course racing. Participants can join the race individually or in teams, according to AFP.
In conjunction with the Tough Mudder Infinity competition, 5km and 10km Tough Mudder competition will be held, providing a group of challenges suitable for all fitness levels.
The Tough Mudder license holder in the Middle East, Nick Cartwright, said that holding the Tough Mudder Infinity competition in AlUla represents the region’s commitment to provide exceptional experiences and promoting an active lifestyle, amid the stunning views of AlUla, which offers participants a wonderful experience.
For his part, Rami Almoallim, the vice president of Destination Marketing and Management at the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU), said that AlUla represents one of the most distinctive tourist destinations in the region, as it continues to attract visitors thanks to the annual “AlUla Moments” calendar, which presents many special events and festivals. He said the region is looking forward to host fans of this exciting sport.



Mexico City Prepares to Welcome Millions for 2026 World Cup

Mexico's iconic Azteca Stadium is undergoing renovation ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. ALFREDO ESTRELLA / AFP/File
Mexico's iconic Azteca Stadium is undergoing renovation ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. ALFREDO ESTRELLA / AFP/File
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Mexico City Prepares to Welcome Millions for 2026 World Cup

Mexico's iconic Azteca Stadium is undergoing renovation ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. ALFREDO ESTRELLA / AFP/File
Mexico's iconic Azteca Stadium is undergoing renovation ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. ALFREDO ESTRELLA / AFP/File

Mexico City is gearing up to welcome more than five million visitors for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, whose opening match will be played in the sprawling megacity, authorities said Wednesday.

The top football tournament will be held in Mexico, the United States and Canada, marking the first time that three countries co-host the event, reported AFP.

Three of the 16 venues will be in the Latin American nation, with the central city of Guadalajara and northern industrial hub of Monterrey sharing Mexico's host duties with the capital.

Eleven other venues will be in the United States and two in Canada.

Mexico's government and city authorities are working together "to ensure that the experience is safe and smooth," Interior Minister Rosa Icela Rodriguez said at a presentation.

"More than five million people are expected to arrive" for the matches in Mexico City, which has around nine million residents and is more than 2,200 meters (7,200 feet) above sea level, she said.

The iconic Azteca Stadium, which has hosted two FIFA World Cup finals, is on track to be renovated by the time the whistle blows for the opening match on June 11, according to organizers.

More than $100 million is being invested in the stadium, its general director Felix Aguirre said, promising that it "will be ready."

The renovation triggered controversy after the venue was renamed after the bank that funded the work.

FIFA ordered the stadium to be referred to as Mexico City Stadium because of its branding rules.

Addressing security concerns in a country plagued by criminal violence, Mexico City Mayor Clara Brugada said 40,000 new security cameras would be acquired, bringing the total to 123,000.

"We will be the most video-surveilled city in all of the Americas," she said.

Organizers called for a World Cup free of homophobia, racism and other attacks on civil liberties.

FIFA has repeatedly sanctioned Mexico for homophobic chanting by its fans in stadiums.