GENEVA — A senior official from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has stated that scheduling the 2034 World Cup in Saudi Arabia alongside the Salt Lake City Winter Games will not present significant challenges for the Olympics.
During an online briefing following a board meeting, Christophe Dubi, the IOC executive director responsible for the games, mentioned that there currently seems to be no major issue with having both significant sporting events occurring close to one another. He noted that the overlap could create an exciting time for sports fans, referring to it as “a real feast” for those who enjoy athletics.
Dubi’s remarks indicate that despite the potential overlap with the Salt Lake City Olympics, which is set to begin its opening ceremony on February 10, 2034, January of that year appears to be a suitable time for FIFA and Saudi Arabia to hold the World Cup.
In previous years, scheduling the World Cup for January 2022 was not considered feasible for FIFA and Qatar, the tournament host, due to the extreme heat of the Middle Eastern summer months. When FIFA made the decision in 2015 to hold the World Cup in Qatar during November and December of 2022, they acknowledged Olympic officials’ concerns regarding proximity to the Winter Games.
The Beijing Winter Olympics took place in early February 2022, making the time frame of events a significant consideration. As FIFA prepares to officially confirm Saudi Arabia as the host for the 2034 World Cup next week, the event is anticipated to be held outside of the extreme summer heat, with temperatures often soaring above 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit).
The upcoming World Cup will feature a new format with 48 teams and a total of 104 matches to be played over a span of 38 days. When asked whether the IOC preferred avoiding scheduling overlaps in early January and February to safeguard the interests of Salt Lake City, Dubi downplayed the risks. He asserted that the likelihood of both events occurring simultaneously is quite low.
According to Dubi, there is virtually no risk to anything from a commercial perspective, suggesting that the overlapping schedule could offer sports fans a thrilling few months filled with top-tier competitions.
Saudi Arabia has established strong political and financial ties with both FIFA and the IOC, positioning itself well to manage the scheduling of these major events. FIFA President Gianni Infantino has built a robust partnership with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman over the years, and earlier this year, the IOC finalized a significant 12-year agreement for Saudi Arabia to host the upcoming Esports Olympics.