Saudi Arabia’s sports minister says the kingdom will work with FIFA to ensure ticket affordability and fan safety for the 2034 World Cup, amid regional instability and lessons from this year’s finals in North America, where costs have been a concern.
Match ticket prices, especially in the resale market, have been a point of contention not only among fans but also with U.S. lawmakers who have called on FIFA to reduce ticket costs, which have seen an astronomical increase since the 2022 tournament in Qatar.
Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki AlFaisal said that while FIFA owns the tickets and sets the prices, Saudi Arabia would work with world football’s governing body to improve accessibility while granting visas to more countries.
«This is something we will work on with FIFA. Nobody wants to see a tournament like the World Cup where people have difficulty getting to,» AlFaisal said. Reuters.
“We have more than 60 (countries whose citizens can get) e-visas on arrival and hopefully more to come. That actually started with a sporting event in the kingdom in 2018, when we organized Formula E. Before that, we didn’t have tourist visas.
«We’ve hosted over 150 international events. All the fans who have come have enjoyed it and had easy access. So that’s definitely one of the things we’re really focusing on to make sure everyone has accessibility.»
Regional tensions
Saudi Arabia will host the Asian Cup in 2027, a key test of the venues ahead of hosting the World Cup in 2034. But the US-Iran war and wider regional tensions threaten to complicate plans to host the world.
However, the minister stressed that security remains of paramount importance for the kingdom, while sporting events have not stopped during the conflict, highlighting attendance at Saudi Pro League matches where the title race went to the wire.
Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice to help Al Nassr clinch the SPL title on the final day of the season.
“Thanks to our leadership, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, we managed the situation in a very professional and safe manner,” he said.
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“As you have seen, even during this situation in the region, we have not stopped. We continue to do this in a safe environment.”
AlFaisal said they were working with their security services to ensure the safety of fans arriving in Saudi Arabia.
“Hopefully everything will work out and everything will be a better environment for everyone in the future,” he added. “But if the situation arises, we will certainly work to ensure that we deliver what is required of us.”
Unique challenges in 2034
The 2034 World Cup will be the first time one country will host the expanded 48-team format, and Al-Faisal said this presented unique challenges.
“Many things are coming into place: logistics, facilities, connectivity and building the foundation for the future of football within the kingdom,” AlFaisal added.
Infrastructure development is already underway, with AlFaisal saying the Aramco Stadium is “almost 80 percent” complete and will host matches during the Asian Cup in January.
The King Fahd Stadium, built in the 1980s, is also being modernized.
“For us it is an iconic stadium, comparable to Wembley or Camp Nou… So we have kept the look and feel of the stadium because we are very proud of it,” he said.
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«But how do you raise that to FIFA standard? It was built in the ’80s, so a lot has changed since then, and that’s what we want to keep.»
Looking ahead to this year’s World Cup, where Saudi Arabia opens its Group H campaign against Uruguay on Monday, it will aim to surpass its best-ever performance when it reached the last 16 in 1994, also in the United States.
AlFaisal said the team’s shock 2-1 win over eventual champions Argentina in Qatar four years ago had also raised expectations.
«It wasn’t a surprise for us at all. It was a surprise, I’ll be honest,» AlFaisal said of that famous result.
«It’s very difficult because it raises the bar and the expectations are much higher, which is a challenge. But it’s a good challenge.»
Published on June 16, 2026
