India, Dec. 12 -- FIFA officially granted Saudi Arabia the rights to host the 2034 World Cup on December 11, a decision that has sparked quite a bit of controversy both before and after the announcement. Human rights organizations like Amnesty International have voiced concerns, stating that this move "will put many lives at risk." Interestingly, this decision came just days after the attendance issues in the Saudi Pro League were highlighted.

The league has been in the news lately for attracting some of the biggest stars in football with huge salaries. Cristiano Ronaldo, one of the most notable signings, has expressed his belief that the 2034 World Cup will be the "best ever."

While matches featuring top teams like Ronaldo's Al Nassr tend to attract large crowds, games between less popular teams often see very low attendance. For instance, a recent match between Al-Wehda, where former Manchester United striker Odion Ighalo plays, and Al Okhdood drew only 405 spectators. Another match in October between Al Fayha and Al Riyadh had an even smaller turnout, with just 390 fans showing up. Al Fayha is now home to former Manchester United and AS Roma defender Chris Smalling, along with ex-Rangers winger Fashion Sakala, who scored in that match.

Attendance at a World Cup is always going to be a different ball game compared to regular league matches between local clubs. You'll see a massive wave of fans from all over the globe, and World Cup games usually get a lot of backing for every team involved. But there's a risk that these stadiums could end up being underused after the tournament, which raises concerns about how sustainable the whole event really is.

In Saudi Arabia, the biggest club stadium is the King Abdullah Sport City Stadium in Jeddah, which holds 62,000 fans and is home to both Al Ahli and Al Ettihad. However, according to Transfermarkt, both teams had a tough time filling the seats last season, averaging around 17,000 and 24,000 fans, respectively.

Last season, the average attendance across all clubs in the Pro League was just 9,000. That’s actually lower than even the third-tier leagues in England (9,500 for EFL League One) and Germany (9,200 for the 3. Liga).

The kingdom is planning to upgrade up to 15 stadiums for the World Cup, along with hotels and transport systems, in preparation for the 104-game tournament. One of the proposed stadiums is set to be 350 meters above ground in Neom, a futuristic city that’s still in the works, while another, named after the crown prince, is designed to sit atop a 200-meter cliff near Riyadh.

Read Also: Attendance in the Saudi Pro League is dropping, sparking worries that the 2034 FIFA World Cup could end up with unused stadiums.

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