ZURICH (AP) — Saudi Arabia scored a major win in its campaign to attract major sports events to the kingdom when it was formally appointed as the 2034 World Cup host on Wednesday. Still, many questions remain about the tournament as well as the 2030 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by Spain, Portugal and Morocco, with three games in South America. Here are some of the key issues that need to be answered over the next decade: Where will games be played? Saudi Arabia proposes 15 stadiums — eight still on paper — in five cities: Eight in the capital Riyadh, four in the Red Sea port city Jeddah, and one each in Abha, Al Khobar and Neom, the planned futuristic mega-project. Each would have at least 40,000 seats for World Cup games. The opening game and final are set for a 92,000-seat venue planned in Riyadh. Some designs are vivid . In Neom, the stadium is planned 350 meters (yards) above street level and one near Riyadh is designed to be atop a 200-meter cliff with a retractable wall of LED screens. Saudi Arabia aims to host all 104 games, though there has been speculation that some games could be played in neighboring or nearby countries. RELATED COVERAGE Saka denied a first Arsenal hat trick by his own teammate in Champions League win Made in America: McKennie and Weah link up for goal to help Juventus beat City Dortmund’s Nico Schlotterbeck taken off on stretcher with ankle injury in loss to Barcelona When will the World Cup be played? Surely not in the traditional World Cup period of June-July, when temperatures in Saudi Arabia routinely exceed 40 Celsius (104 degrees). FIFA moved the Qatar-hosted World Cup to November-December 2022, though those dates were not loved by most European clubs and leagues whose seasons were interrupted. Also, that slot is complicated in 2034 by the holy month of Ramadan through mid-December and Riyadh hosting the multi-sport Asian Games. January 2034 could be a possibility even though that would be just before the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. The International Olympic Committee has signaled it won’t be opposed to back-to-back major events. In an interview with The Associated Press on Wednesday, Saudi World Cup bid official Hammad Albalawi said the precise dates of the tournament are up the world soccer body. “That’s a decision by FIFA. We stand ready to be part of this conversation. But ultimately it’s a FIFA decision together with the confederations,” Albalawi said. Will stadiums be segregated for men and women? Giving more rights and freedoms to women in a traditionally conservative society is fundamental to Saudi messaging around the modernization program known as Vision 2030. The kingdom decided in 2017 to let women attend sports events, initially in major cities and in family zones separate from men-only sections. By 2034, at the promised pace of social reforms, female fans should not be restricted. Saudi Arabia launched a women’s professional soccer league in 2022 with players joining from clubs in Europe. They face no restrictions playing in shorts and with hair uncovered. Will alcohol be allowed at the venues or hotels? The Saudi prohibition of alcohol is clear and understood before FIFA signs any sponsor deals for 2034. But will there be any exceptions? The alcohol issue was problematic for the World Cup in Qatar because the expectation was created that beer sales would be allowed at stadiums even before Qatar won its bid in 2010. One year later, FIFA extended a long-time deal to have Budweiser as the official World Cup beer through 2022. Qatar then backtracked on that promise three days before the first game, causing confusion and the sense of a promise broken. In Qatar, alcohol was served only at luxury suites at the stadiums. Visitors could also have a drink in some hotel bars. But Saudi Arabia has even stricter rules on alcohol — and there is no indication that will change. Albalawi noted that Saudi Arabia has successfully hosted dozens of sports events where alcohol wasn’t served. “We’re creating a safe and secure family environment for fans to bring their families into our stadiums,” he said. How will workers rights be protected? Saudi promises to reform and enforce labor laws, and fully respect migrant workers, have been accepted by FIFA but face broad skepticism from rights groups and trade unions. A formal complaint is being investigated by the U.N.-backed International Labor Organization. Protecting the migrant workers needed to build stadiums and other tournament projects — a decade after it was a defining issue for Qatar — looms as a signature challenge for Saudi Arabia. Would Israel be allowed to play if it qualified for the 2034 World Cup? Saudi-Israeli relations had been improving when FIFA all but gave the 2034 World Cup to the kingdom on Oct. 4 last year. Three days later Hamas attacked Israel and diplomacy got more complicated. Any soccer federation bidding to host a FIFA tournament accepts a basic principle that whichever team qualifies is welcome. That did not stop Indonesia putting up barriers last year to Israel coming for the men’s Under-20 World Cup. Indonesia does not have formal diplomatic relations with Israel which had qualified through a European tournament nine months before the issue flared. FIFA moved the entire tournament to Argentina and the Israeli team reached the semifinals. Israel played at the 1970 World Cup but has never advanced through qualifying in Europe, where it has been a member of UEFA for 30 years. Europe should have 16 places in the 48-team World Cup in Saudi Arabia. Where will the final of the 2030 World Cup be played? Most of the attention at the FIFA Congress on Wednesday was on the Saudi decision, but the soccer body and its members also formally approved the hosts of the 2030 World Cup — the most spread out and longest ever. One game each in Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay, the original host in 1930, will be played from June 8-9. The tournament resumes four days later for the other 101 games shared between Spain, Portugal and Morocco. Six countries, three continents, multiple languages and currencies. Fans traveling on planes, trains, automobiles and boats across about 14 kilometers (10 miles) of water between Spain and Morocco. The final is due on July 21, 2030 and a decision on where it will be played could cause some tension between the host countries. Morocco wants it in the world’s biggest soccer venue — the planned 115,000-seat King Hassan II Stadium in Casablanca. Spain, meanwhile, has proposed to host the final in either of the remodeled home stadiums of club giants Real Madrid or Barcelona. ___ Associated Press writer Baraa Anwer in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, contributed to this report.Stock market today: Wall Street slips to a rare back-to-back loss
Bieber re-signs with GuardiansNoneBy Jessica Cogswell on December 10, 2024 at 1:50PM PST GameSpot may receive revenue from affiliate and advertising partnerships for sharing this content and from purchases through links. In addition to recognizing some of the greatest games of the past year, The Game Awards is also a celebration of all the fantastic games to come. Each December, we are treated to plenty of jam-packed showcases filled with reveals, updates, and even a few surprise releases. One such showcase is Wholesome Snack, which offers a bite-sized look at some of the coziest titles currently in production. This year, Wholesome Games brought 24 games front and center, with genres ranging from fantasy RPGs and adventure puzzlers to life sims and match-three games. Below is everything shown at this year's Wholesome Snack showcase, as well as links to their respective Steam pages and a bit more about what adventures they hold. This adorable exploration game sees you play as a mama duck in charge of guiding her ducklings from the moment they hatch up until their first flight. With a cheery soundtrack, lush environments, plenty of cute interactions, and low stakes, the only thing developer Shaky Shrub Games says you need to worry about is "cuteness overload." Release date: TBD Aikyam combines Bollywood, turn-based combat, and highly saturated art to create a unique fantasy RPG in which dance can save the world. Join Vishva, Ramli, and Guru-ji as they protect their ancient Indian village from an influx of demons through compassion and dazzling dance moves. Release date: TBD Capy Castaway is a whimsical adventure game in which you play as a capybara and their crotchety crow companion. Each member of this duo possesses unique skills, with the capybara able to push, sniff, and dig while the crow can fly and pick up items. Together they must navigate puzzles in order to find their way back home. Release date: TBD Set in Quito, Ecuador, Despelote follows eight-year-old Julián as he navigates life and his favorite hobby: soccer. Billed as a "soccer game about people," Despelote offers players a look at life in Quito as Ecuador comes closer than ever to winning the World Cup. Release date: 2025 The next entry in the Duck Detective series, Duck Detective: The Ghost of Glamping follows our fowl friend as he investigates a lavish campground alongside a new companion he doesn't quite get along with. Marketed as a comical version of deduction puzzlers such as The Return of the Obra Dinn, this title looks perfect for anyone looking for a low-stakes mystery game. Release date: 2025 Little Rocket Lab offers a different spin on your traditional farming sim as protagonist Morgan returns to her hometown not to farm, but to finish building the rocket her mother always dreamed of creating. When not flexing your engineering skills, you'll get the chance to build relationships with the town's inhabitants, unlock new components for your lab, and help save the town of St. Ambrose. Release date: TBD Another original take on the life sim genre, Locomoto sees you play as an adorable, animal-like train conductor. You'll get the chance to customize your very own engine, tend to passengers, and "embark on a journey through beautiful landscapes," all while listening to some soft, lofi beats. Release date: TBD After raising nearly $1.3 million on Kickstarter , production on the highly anticipated solarpunk farming sim/MMO Loftia is well on its way. The team at Qloud Games offered another look at the game during Wholesome Snack, focusing on the new Neighborhoods feature, which "allows players to attach their personal floating islands to others, forming a small community of islands anchored around a central, communal space." Release date: TBD Tiny Roar's Lou's Lagoon is as an adventure game that tasks you with solving the mysterious disappearance of your Uncle Lou. Fortunately, he left you with complete control of his seaplane delivery service, allowing you to not only search the Limbo Archipelago for his whereabouts, but harvest resources, take on jobs, and grow your own business while you do it. Release date: TBD Billed as a colorful, minimalist adventure game, Naiad allows players to float dreamily through rivers, interact with flora and fauna, and simply vibe out as they take in all of nature's wonders. When you're not helping ducklings swim and plants bloom, it will also be up to you to ensure that reckless humans don't pollute the river, adding an eco-friendly message to a relaxing experience. Release date: Out now In Piece by Piece , you play as an adorable fox in charge of their own repair shop. You'll play a vital role in your community as the town's primary fixer-upper, as you fix, build, and paint "all sorts of curious items from a model cat all the way to binoculars." When not in your workshop, you'll get the chance to grow plants to create dyes and play a few rounds of Bear, Fish, Bee. Release date: TBD In Pinbleton Park , everything you see is part of a giant pinball table, making for a unique take on a cozy adventure game. You'll be tasked with helping villagers, rescuing lost spirits, and taking down an evil corporation bent on destroying the town, using pinball mechanics to accomplish all these feats. Release date: TBD In the mood for a good cry? It certainly seems like Pine: A Story of Loss has you covered. Pine follows a woodcutter as he struggles to accept his wife's passing, which has rendered him unable to care for both himself and his now-empty home. Through puzzles and minigames, you'll get the chance to help the woodworker sort through his cherished memories and eventually embrace the next part of his life. Release date: December 13, 2024 Part-city builder and part-puzzle game, River Towns tasks you with placing differently shaped and colored districts alongside a river until you're able to connect the streams and restore the area. Depending upon how you arrange your town, you'll earn points which you can then compare with your friends, adding some replayability and competitive fun to the single-player game. Release date: 2025 With nearly 10,000 reviews and an 'overwhelming positive' score on Steam, Rusty's Retirement is already a well-loved entry in both the idle and farming sim genres. During December's Wholesome Snack, developer Mister Morris Games' revealed a free new Winter expansion was now available for download. The update adds a new winter map, a plethora of new animals (such as cats, dogs, and deer), new characters, and Christmas decorations. Release date: Out now From the award-winning developers of Journey, Sky: Children of the Light is an MMO adventure game filled with puzzles and gorgeous visuals. With a mission of helping people restore "their child-like sense of wonder," Sky is an open-world social game in which you can band with others to fend of the darkness--as well as throw parties and attend concerts. During December's Wholesome Snack showcase, the team announced Alice's Wonderland Cafe is coming to the game on December 23, adding cute new characters and a tea party setting. Release date: Currently in early access Snufkin: Melody of Moomin Valley is a musical adventure game filled with puzzles, whimsical characters, and most importantly, Moomins. Based on the work of illustrator Tove Jansson, this visually rich title sees you play as Snufkin, a druid-like character who vows to keep the destructive Park Keeper and his sinister plans away from Moomin Valley. During December's Wholesome Snack, a new DLC for Snufkin was announced. Set during late summer, it sees the Moomins embark on a final camping trip before they enter hibernation. Release date: Out now Soft Not Weak's Spirit Swap combines compelling match-3 style gameplay with vibrant colors, lofi music, witchcraft, and unapologetic queerness to create an entirely original experience that we can't wait to play. The puzzler follows protagonist Samar as they attempt to crash the biggest concert of the year--and perhaps smooch a few characters while they do. In addition to all this, the game also supports local co-op, allowing you to face-off against your friends in match-3 battles. Release date: February 3, 2025 A colorful, sci-fi take on base-building and resource management games, Star Birds tasks you with helping your population of spacefaring bird survive by scanning and building upon nearby asteroids. 360-degree construction adds a fun twist to traditional base-building, allowing you to spin and tilt your territory as you pioneer the stars. When not upgrading your buildings, you'll also be tasked with taking on missions and solving mysteries that will ultimately unlock new technology and help your avian allies. Release date: 2025 Rather than see you simply drop off your crops and gathered resources in a shipping bin like oh so many farming sims do, Sugardew Island tasks you with actually selling the items yourself via your own shop. By growing crops, tending to animals, and gathering resources, you'll see the island slowly fill with life. During December's Wholesome Snack, we got a look at the game's romance options, making us even more excited for its release early next year. Release date: March 2025 Set on an island haven in which yokai--or Japanese spirits--roam about, T ales of Seikyu follows you and your sister as you move into an abandoned farm house to start a new life. As you discover more about your ancestry and Fox Clan heritage, you'll unlock the ability to shift into different creatures that will allow you to protect your homeland. When not off turning into a giant boar, you'll also get the chance to farm, grow your ranch, cook, partake in festivals, and find a soulmate. Release date: 2025 The follow-up to 2021 indie darling Toem: A Photo Adventure, Toem 2 shakes up the original's top-down style gameplay by switching to a first-person view. The game's core concept, however, remains the same, and sees you traverse a whimsical, black-and-white world taking photographs and solving puzzles. As you do, you'll unravel mysteries, meet wacky characters, and learn to stop and appreciate life's little wonders. Release date: TBD Of all the cozy games on this list, Winter Burrow could very well be coziest--just look at the lil' mouse! The woodland survival game follows a mouse who moves back to their homeland after growing tired of the big city. Upon coming home, however, the mouse finds their old burrow in ruins and their aunt missing. It is then up to you to help them gather resources, knit sweaters, cook pies, and slowly build both their home and community back up. Sure, you have to fight off bugs, but I truly can't get over how cute the rest of that sounds. Release date: TBD The follow-up to the charming farming-sim Wylde Flowers, Wylde Society is a prequel that tells the story of former protagonist's Tara's great-great aunt Vivian. Whereas Wylde Flowers saw you manage a homestead, Studio Drydock's newest title focuses on socialization, as Vivian must navigate being a witch, a socialite, and the owner of a boarding house. With Bridgerton vibes, seances, magic creatures, and romance, Wylde Society already seems bewitching. Release date: TBD Upvote Leave Blank
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