A Saudi rights activist has issued a stark warning that football fans attending the 2034 World Cup in Saudi Arabia will be living in a "bubble" that does not reflect the true reality of life in the kingdom.

The warning comes after FIFA confirmed Saudi Arabia as the host for the 2034 tournament on Wednesday, with FIFA president Gianni Infantino acknowledging that "the world will be watching" for positive social change.

Human rights groups have expressed concerns over the safety of migrant workers involved in stadium construction and other World Cup projects, while Saudi Arabia's laws restricting freedoms for women and LGBTQ+ individuals have been criticised by the United Nations Human Rights council.

"Western people will be very safe. They will see a bubble of what Saudi Arabia is," said Lina al-Hathloul, a Saudi activist with London-based rights group ALQST.

Her sister, Loujain al-Hathloul, was imprisoned for three years following her campaign to end the ban on women driving in Saudi Arabia, which was lifted in 2018. She currently lives under a travel ban.

Lina al-Hathloul described Saudi Arabia as "a pure police state," under the rule of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, whose close relationship with Infantino was instrumental in securing the World Cup without a rival bid.

The crown prince "has really managed to create this bubble where people only see entertainment and they don’t see the reality on the ground," al-Hathloul said.

"No one will see tortures in prisons and no one will see executions. You also have the jails full of people just for tweets."

Saudi officials have been keen to highlight their nation's rapid modernisation during a 15-month bid campaign for the 2034 World Cup, largely shrouded in secrecy due to FIFA's opaque processes.

Hammad Albalawi of the Saudi bid team expressed pride in Riyadh on Wednesday: "We’re very proud of the society that we are today," and outlined the kingdom's aspirations: "to make the citizens global citizens and to welcome guests from all around the world."

Despite the widespread acclaim for the decision, Norway stood alone among FIFA’s 211 member federations in opposing the process.

Two years prior, FIFA President Gianni Infantino had criticised Europeans for their hypocrisy in lecturing other cultures.

In a recent development, the English Football Association revealed it had received assurances from Saudi officials about inclusivity: "They assured us that they are fully committed to providing a safe and welcome environment for all fans," including LGBTQ+ supporters, according to an FA statement.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, an avid Arsenal supporter, met with Prince Mohammed just days before the vote, discussing economic growth as his "number one mission" and expressing a desire to attend a football match with the crown prince in London.

Al-Hathloul acknowledged some progress in Saudi Arabia, particularly regarding women's freedoms, but cautioned that these changes are not institutional or fundamental and do not benefit everyone.