Cristiano Ronaldo has expressed confidence in the nation’s ability to deliver a successful tournament, following FIFA’s announcement that the World Cup will return to the Middle East in 2034, marking its second appearance in the region after Qatar’s 2022 edition.
The Portuguese legend has witnessed firsthand the rapid development of football and infrastructure in Saudi Arabia over the past two years. Since joining Al-Nassr in January 2023, he has broken numerous records in the Saudi Pro League and continues to be the nation’s biggest star.
Following the official announcement of Saudi Arabia as the host nation for the 2034 World Cup, Ronaldo shared a video message on social media, stating, “2034 will be the best World Cup ever. It’s amazing! The infrastructure, the stadiums, the conditions for the fans and everything, and after what I see, I’m more convinced that 2034 will be the best World Cup ever.”
“One or two of these kids that I will be together with today will play in the World Cup. I believe that they will continue to grow, especially the women and that they will grow very well, too. We have to grow together in everything. Not only in football but in life and I will motivate them to work hard, believe in that.”
Congratulations to all my friends in Saudi, I know how proud you all are today and I am sure @Saudi2034 will be historic 🇸🇦🏆#WelcomeToSaudi34 pic.twitter.com/m0GB1O2R4w
— Cristiano Ronaldo (@Cristiano) December 11, 2024
Commenting on the progress of the Saudi league, the 39-year-old further remarked, ” “The league has grown so fast in the last year. If you see the difference, it’s amazing. You have like seven or eight big clubs right now in the league that are very difficult to beat. The evolution of the players, for example, my teammates and the other teams, is that Saudis are growing so fast and are becoming better players.”
“The country is unbelievable. The Saudis are very good people. Every year, they do big events, football matches, boxing – entertainment is very high. The future is very bright in my opinion. And I am happy to be part of the success of this country and I will be here for sure to see the World Cup.”
In preparation for the World Cup, Saudi is preparing to build 15 stadiums spread across five major cities: Riyadh, Jeddah, Al Khobar, Abha, and NEOM. Among these, the King Salman International Stadium stands out, set to host both the opening and final matches, with a seating capacity of an impressive 93,000. Each stadium boasts distinct architectural designs.
Mohd Faisal Hakak is a sports author from Kashmir. He likes to keep tabs on the sporting world with a keen interest in football, motorsports, NBA, and other marquee sports. He is a science graduate from Islamia College Srinagar.
