Saudi Arabia is ready to host the 2034 World Cup in summer or winter, according to the country’s football leader, after the oil superpower emerged as the tournament’s single bidder.
“Of course, we are ready for all possibilities,” Saudi Arabian Football Federation president Yasser al-Misehal said late on Tuesday at the Asian Football Confederation awards in Doha.
Saudi Arabia’s reportedly successful bid comes just 27 days after it was announced, and less than a year after neighboring Qatar hosted the inaugural winter World Cup, forcing a halt to European league play.
Summer temperatures in the desert country can reach 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit), which would be considered unsafe for football and possibly too hot for supporters to be outside.
“Today there are many new technologies that help you with cooling or adding air conditioners in stadiums, in addition to the fact that there are many cities in the kingdom that enjoy a very wonderful atmosphere in the summer,” Misehal said.