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.



South Korea Expresses Regret after Its Athletes Introduced as North Korea at Opening Ceremony

 Athletes of South Korea travel by boat along the Seine river during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics, in Paris, France, Friday, July 26, 2024. (AP)
Athletes of South Korea travel by boat along the Seine river during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics, in Paris, France, Friday, July 26, 2024. (AP)
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South Korea Expresses Regret after Its Athletes Introduced as North Korea at Opening Ceremony

 Athletes of South Korea travel by boat along the Seine river during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics, in Paris, France, Friday, July 26, 2024. (AP)
Athletes of South Korea travel by boat along the Seine river during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics, in Paris, France, Friday, July 26, 2024. (AP)

South Korea expressed regret that its delegation of athletes at the Paris Olympics opening ceremony on Friday was introduced as from rival North Korea and has demanded assurances from organizers the mistake will not happen again.

As the boat carrying South Korean athletes passed on the Seine, the announcer introduced them as the "Democratic People's Republic of Korea" - the official name of North Korea - in French and English.

The announcer used the same introduction when the North Korean delegation passed.

South Korea's vice minister for sports and culture, Jang Mi-ran, who was in Paris, had requested a meeting with International Olympics Committee President Thomas Bach, the ministry said in a statement.

"We express regret that the country was introduced as North Korea at the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympic Games when the athletes of the Republic of Korea were entering," it said.

South Korea's National Olympic Committee immediately referred the incident to the Games' organizers and requested that the error will not be repeated.

South Korea's delegation includes 143 athletes competing in 21 events. North Korea, which is returning to the Games for the first time since Rio 2016, has sent 16 athletes.