The FIFA World Cup 2022 has stepped Qatar into the limelight. Before the FIFA leading board decided to locate the World Cup in Qatar, the region was little or not known to most football fans. However, the latest hosting process has shown the world that the Middle East is a brilliant region with high potential in the sports industry.
Hosting a World Cup tournament was probably the biggest achievement for Qatar. This tiny kingdom worked hard for months and months by preparing all the necessary structures and infrastructures to welcome thousands of international fans. The experiment has greatly succeeded.
Qatar's economic and cultural emergence after FIFA 2022 seems to have encouraged other countries in the Middle Eastern region to come out for bidding to the following events in the international sports agenda. One of the protagonists of the new Arab forefront in this industry is Saudi Arabia. In particular, the coastal city of Jeddah has already been home to important sports events, including car races, global equestrian championships, world combat games, boxing, and world weightlifting championships.
Also, Jeddah is even home to a growing eSports community. The country is opening its doors to the newest forms of entertainment, so it could not miss the opportunity of hosting eSports tournaments in its dedicated gaming center in Jeddah, a land-based platform for PC gaming events under the regulatory activity of the Saudi eSports Federation. The kingdom is also working to expand education in high-tech and artificial intelligence systems among youth. The goal is to create a generation of prepared youth to employ in this new industry in the following years. Another sensational news is that even women will access eSports careers.
Meanwhile, eSports is growing online at an impressive speed. Today's Saudi Arabia eSports betting is a well-promising and developed reality, close to launching Saudi Arabia as an international hub in this field. Widely incentivized by the pandemic period, the eSports segment is still growing nonstop across the kingdom, a sign that young Arabs show fervent participation in virtual gaming and streaming sharing.
Physical sports and virtual eSports won't compete, though. They are designed as two parallel ways to boost the kingdom's economy and international reputation.
The choice is clear enough: Saudi Arabia is trying to get free of its historical role as a producer and exporter of hydrocarbons. Its petrol-based economy can't endure the actual social and economic trends leading to eco-friendly energy sources. That's why the kingdom is winking at the sports industry more seriously.
According to recent rumors, Saudi Arabia is working on a possible bid for FIFA 2030. The speculation about a future application of the kingdom for the World Cup 2030 began as Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was sitting next to FIFA President Gianni Infantino at the opening match of Qatar 2022. The gossip machine started moving its gears suggesting other countries as possible cohosts of World Cup 2030. It seems likely that Greece and Egypt might partner with Saudi Arabia in the race for success within the bidding for FIFA 2030. Regardless of geographical distances, the three countries might create a network to renovate Saudi tourism structures and sports-dedicated venues to host millions of fans from all corners of the planet.
The way to FIFA 2030 is still long to go. We'll have time ahead to catch the latest news about the bidding rush.
