Saudi Sports Minister: 2034 World Cup Could be Hosted in Summer or Winter

Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal is seen at an event with Saudi athletes. Asharq Al-Awsat
Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal is seen at an event with Saudi athletes. Asharq Al-Awsat
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Saudi Sports Minister: 2034 World Cup Could be Hosted in Summer or Winter

Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal is seen at an event with Saudi athletes. Asharq Al-Awsat
Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal is seen at an event with Saudi athletes. Asharq Al-Awsat

Saudi Arabia is looking into the possibility of hosting the 2034 men's World Cup during the traditional months of June-July, according to the Kingdom's Sports Minister.

In an interview, Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal told British broadcaster BBC that either a summer or winter tournament was possible.

“Definitely we are studying both options to see what is the best option to host the World Cup,” the Minister said in an interview in Jeddah published Friday.

“Why not see what the possibilities are to do it in the summer?” Prince Abdulaziz said.

The Qatar World Cup was the first to be played in November-December.

The International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) announced last month that Saudi Arabia is the only country that has filed a bid to host the 2034 World Cup.

While Saudi Arabia getting the 2034 tournament is now seen as a formality across global soccer, the final decision must be rubber-stamped at a meeting of the 211 FIFA member federations late next year.

Saudi Arabia was already building some stadiums to host the 2027 Asian Cup and FIFA has asked for 14 stadiums to host the World Cup.



Olympic Cauldron to Rise into Paris Skies Each Night

 Paris 2024 Olympics - Paris, France - July 27, 2024. A general view of the balloon and Olympic cauldron in Jardin des Tuileries. (Reuters)
Paris 2024 Olympics - Paris, France - July 27, 2024. A general view of the balloon and Olympic cauldron in Jardin des Tuileries. (Reuters)
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Olympic Cauldron to Rise into Paris Skies Each Night

 Paris 2024 Olympics - Paris, France - July 27, 2024. A general view of the balloon and Olympic cauldron in Jardin des Tuileries. (Reuters)
Paris 2024 Olympics - Paris, France - July 27, 2024. A general view of the balloon and Olympic cauldron in Jardin des Tuileries. (Reuters)

The Olympic cauldron that made a stunning first flight at the Paris Games opening ceremony will sit on the ground during the day and rise again every evening.

Paris Olympics organizers said that from Saturday, the cauldron attached to a balloon will fly more than 60 meters (197 feet) above the Tuileries gardens near the glass pyramid entrance to the Louvre museum from sunset until 2 a.m.

During daytime hours, 10,000 people each day can get free tickets to approach the cauldron, which is the first in Olympic history to light up without the use of fossil fuels.

Organizers said the electric flame uses 40 LED spotlights “to illuminate the cloud created by 200 high-pressure misting nozzles.”