Rule Changes and the Sporting Window
A critical rule change occurred when FIFA relaxed its stadium‐requirements for the 2034 World Cup bidding process. Previously, hosts had to propose 14 suitable stadiums, with at least seven already existing. Under the new rules, that threshold dropped to only four existing venues (or under construction)
This change opened the door for Saudi Arabia to bid strongly for 2034. The kingdom quickly declared its interest and positioned itself as the front‐runner. Meanwhile, Qatar had already gained substantial international exposure through hosting the 2022 World Cup and by leveraging regulatory and investment reforms.
Thus, both countries have benefited from rule changes and shifts in global governance that favour big infrastructure, large‐scale event hosting and regulatory flexibility.
How Saudi Arabia Has Gained
1. Hosting Potential Realised
With the stadium requirement relaxed, Saudi Arabia moved into the ideal position to host the 2034 event. The country’s bid book proposes 15 stadiums across five cities, including Riyadh, Jeddah, Al Khobar, Abha and NEOM.
The country’s ambition aligns with its broader economic reform blueprint, Saudi Vision 2030, which emphasises sports, tourism and international visibility. Hosting the World Cup is seen as a means to accelerate diversification away from oil.
2. Regulatory & Economic Leverage
Beyond stadium rules, Saudi Arabia has implemented reforms in investment, real estate, ownership laws and social insurance programmes, making it more attractive to global investors. For example, foreign ownership changes in real‐estate and digitised real‐estate registries are growing.
3. Sports & Infrastructure Push
Leveraging its regulatory reforms, Saudi Arabia has tapped infrastructure development as a key tool. Large stadium plans, the NEOM project, upgraded transport links and major international sports events all amplify its global profile.
4. Soft‐Power and Global Brand
By aligning rule changes with major events (like the World Cup) and regulatory reforms, Saudi Arabia benefits in soft‐power terms: creating an image of modernity, global connectivity and readiness to host world‐class events. Experts describe the 2034 bid as a “game changer” for tourism and international attention.
How Qatar Has Benefited
1. Precedent and Experience
Qatar’s hosting of the 2022 World Cup gave it considerable global visibility. That legacy gives it a competitive edge in regulatory and institutional reforms, infrastructure investment, and sports diplomacy.
2. Regulatory Reforms to Attract Investment
Qatar, too, is reforming its laws to make its economy more attractive. For example, it is drafting new laws such as bankruptcy law, public‐private partnership law and commercial registration reforms across many ministries. These changes are designed to boost foreign direct investment (FDI).
3. Bilateral Cooperation & Market Access
Qatar and Saudi Arabia have enhanced economic cooperation with shared initiatives, investment forums and regulatory harmonisation. This cooperation strengthens Qatar’s regional role and gives it improved market access.
4. Sports & Hosting Advantage
Having hosted 2022, Qatar already has world‐class facilities, know‐how, and a strong sports brand. That places it well to benefit from future regulatory adjustments and to negotiate favourable hosting or investment opportunities.
Broader Implications of the Rule Changes
For Hosting Rights & Infrastructure
Changing rules around stadiums and hosting bids essentially lowers the barrier for big and wealthy nations to step into global roles. It shifts hosting rights from those with existing infrastructure to those with financial capacity and regulatory flexibility.
For Regulatory and Investment Regimes
Rule changes are not just about sports. They extend to investment laws, capital flows, real estate ownership, social insurance reforms, labour market reform and more. Saudi Arabia and Qatar are using this to reposition themselves globally.
For Soft Power & Geopolitics
These countries are turning global events and regulatory reforms into diplomatic tools. Hosting major tournaments, reforming laws, increasing foreign investment—all signal to the world a rising influence.
For the Global South / Emerging Markets
The shift raises a question: are global governance rules (in sport, investment, trade) becoming skewed to favour wealthy, well-connected states capable of rewriting or influencing rules rather than smaller nations? Many analysts suggest that the changes benefit states with deep financial resources.
Some Criticisms & Risks
While Saudi Arabia and Qatar gain, these developments are not without controversies:
- Human rights concerns: In Saudi Arabia’s case, rights groups argue that hosting rights have been awarded despite insufficient reforms in labour and migrant worker protections.
- Environmental costs: Massive stadium and infrastructure builds come with significant carbon and environmental footprints.
- Sustainability of gains: The long‐term benefits of hosting events depend on legacy use of infrastructure and true structural change—rather than simply a one‐off spectacle.
- Rule change backlash: When rules are changed specifically for one bidder, questions arise about fairness, transparency and precedent for future bids.
What This Means for the Region & the World
For the Gulf region, the rule changes and benefits for Saudi Arabia and Qatar underline a shift: Gulf states are not just passive recipients of global rules—they are shaping them, leveraging rule change to serve national strategies.
Globally, this trend may prompt other regional players to reconsider how they engage with major sport, infrastructure and investment regimes. Nations may invest in rule‐shaping as well as rule‐following.
For fans, athletes, labour advocates and activists, the importance of structural change (not just high‐profile events) remains. Hosting rights bring spotlight—and risk.
Conclusion
Saudi Arabia and Qatar have strategically positioned themselves to benefit from rule changes—particularly in global sport—while simultaneously reforming their regulatory and business environments to attract investment and boost global influence.
In the case of Saudi Arabia, the altered stadium rules of FIFA enabled a bold bid for the 2034 World Cup—a core element of its Vision 2030 agenda. For Qatar, regulatory reforms and prior hosting experience give it leverage and credibility internationally.
However, the real test lies ahead: whether these gains translate into sustainable economic, social and governance benefits. As the world watches, the Gulf’s rule‐shaping moment may be a watershed for how emerging powers engage in global systems.
