World Cup a big part of Saudi's reform agenda

Fireworks and drones depicting the iconic golden World Cup trophy lit up the sky in Saudi Arabia's capital this week after FIFA confirmed the Gulf kingdom would play host to the tournament in 2034.

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While the news was hardly a surprise, with Saudi Arabia emerging as the sole candidate last year, officials took advantage of the formal announcement to stage celebrations hailing their bid's success.

Human rights groups including Amnesty International immediately condemned FIFA's decision, saying it "marks a moment of great danger" and voicing concern about risks to construction workers.

Such external criticism has dogged Saudi Arabia during its push to rebrand as a sports powerhouse by staging high-profile tennis tournaments, Formula One races and boxing matches on Saudi soil.