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Saudi Arabia asks for western consultation to host the 2030 World Cup

The Middle East Eye reported, citing New York Times, that Riyadh hires Boston Consulting Group to work on tournament bid, and asks other Western consultants for help. World Cup
According to MEE, one of the advisers working on the Saudi bid said a number of Western consultants had been asked to help with the project, which is currently being headed by the Boston Consulting Group.
The adviser noted the bid would require "out of the box thinking", including a potential agreement to host the tournament with a European partner country, MEE added.
Any attempt to secure hosting rights for the tournament would ultimately be difficult, considering its Gulf neighbour Qatar is hosting the 2022 tournament.
A Saudi Arabia bid for the tournament would also face strong competition from several European countries, including the UK, where officials have placed their full support behind a proposed 2030 bid.
In October, Spain and Portugal confirmed plans to enter a joint bid while Romania, Greece, Bulgaria and Serbia have also signalled their intent to launch a combined bid.
News of a potential Saudi Arabia bid comes after Fifa approved a request from the Saudi Football Federation to study staging the World Cup and Women's World Cup every two years instead of four, which would give more opportunities for other countries to host.
Riyadh maintains close links with Fifa, and its president, Gianni Infantino, visited the kingdom in January and held talks with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, where the two reportedly talked about "the role football can play as a uniting factor in the region".
Sports and entertainment events have formed part of the kingdom’s Vision 2030 strategy to diversify the economy and improve its international reputation.
Last year, the kingdom was unsuccessful in an attempt to take over the English football club Newcastle United. This week it failed to win a contract to secure broadcasting rights for the Champions League, losing out to Qatar's beIN network.
Rights groups have repeatedly warned against allowing Riyadh to host major sporting events, accusing the kingdom of "sportswashing" its human rights abuses, including the persecution and jailing of dissidents and activists, as well as the killing of Middle East Eye columnist Jamal Khashoggi. World Cup
Source: Middle East Eye
Image Source: AFP-Middle East Eye
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- April 23, 2025
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Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”
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