No alcohol allowed at 2034 World Cup football finals, says Saudi ambassador

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A drone show is seen displaying the words "Welcome to Saudi 34" as Saudi Arabia is announced as the host nation for the Fifa World Cup 2034.

No alcohol will be allowed at the 2034 Fifa World Cup finals in Saudi Arabia.

PHOTO: REUTERS

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LONDON – No alcohol will be allowed at the 2034 Fifa World Cup finals in Saudi Arabia, the Saudi ambassador to Britain said on Feb 12.

In an interview on LBC radio station, Prince Khalid bin Bandar Al Saud said alcohol would not be sold anywhere in the country.

This is different from the 2022 World Cup finals in Qatar where alcohol was available in designated fan areas and five-star hotels, all at very inflated prices.

“At the moment, we don’t allow alcohol,” Prince Khalid said in the interview.

“Everyone has their own culture. We’re happy to accommodate people within the boundaries of our culture but we don’t want to change our culture for someone else,” added the Prince, who insisted that the World Cup was “not a Saudi event, it is a world event and, to a large extent, we will welcome everyone who wants to come.” XINHUA

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