FIFA Unveils Saudi Plans to Host 2034 FIFA World Cup
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) has unveiled details of Saudi Arabia’s ambitious bid to host the largest-ever edition of the 2034 FIFA World Cup held in a single country.
FIFA’s announcement follows Saudi Arabia’s official bid book submission for the FIFA World Cup 2034 at a FIFA ceremony in Paris after an official SAFF delegation led by Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki bin Faisal, Minister of Sport and President of the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee, submitted the bid.
The Kingdom is the second country to host the prestigious event in the Middle East after Qatar hosted FIFA World Cup in 2022 and is expected to immensely gain from the millions of tourists visiting the country to witness the tournament.
The official bid slogan, “Growing. Together.” has received full support from H R H Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman. The Kingdom has already drawn up plans to make the event a spectacular in the region.
According to a report from Cushman and Wakefield, a global commercial real estate services leader, the FIFA 2022 World Cup in Qatar helped deliver a 4% surge to the host country’s gross domestic product, up from the 1.5% growth observed in 2021.
The Saudi bid outlined five proposed host cities for the FIFA World Cup 2034 – Riyadh, Jeddah, Al Khobar, Abha, and NEOM. The five host cities will feature 15 advanced stadiums, including 11 new planned stadiums. Riyadh will host eight stadiums, including the new King Salman Stadium, which will accommodate over 92,000 spectators and is set to host the opening and final matches.
Additionally, the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Stadium in Riyadh will feature triple-tiered stands and a stunning view of one of the Tuwaiq cliffs, with an innovative, futuristic design. The refurbished King Fahad Sports City Stadium in Riyadh will accommodate over 70,000 spectators.
In Jeddah, the new Jeddah Central Development Stadium will feature an architectural design inspired by local heritage, while the coastal King Abdullah Sports City Stadium will be inspired by the coral reefs of the Red Sea.
In Al Khobar, the Aramco Stadium will be situated on the Arabian Gulf coast with a design inspired by the sea. In Abha, King Khalid University Stadium will undergo temporary expansion to accommodate over 45,000 spectators during the tournament. NEOM Stadium, situated within THE LINE project, will provide an unprecedented experience, running entirely on renewable energy.
The hosting plan includes 10 other locations for training camps, leveraging the Kingdom’s diverse geography. Saudi Arabia will have over 230,000 rooms across the five host cities, meeting FIFA requirements. A total of 132 training venues across 15 cities are proposed, including 72 stadiums for Base Camp Training Sites.
Dream Turns into Reality
The bid book also outlined 10 proposed FIFA Fan Festival sites, with FIFA selecting one site in each host city. Locations include King Salman Park in Riyadh, Jeddah Waterfront, Al Bihar square in Abha, the marina within THE LINE in NEOM, and King Abdullah Park in Al Khobar.
Prince Abdulaziz thanked the Leadership for their unwavering support of the Kingdom’s sports sector, and to the Crown Prince for his continuous guidance and empowerment regarding Saudi Arabia’s FIFA World Cup 2034 bid.
“Together, we are working towards making Saudi Arabia’s dream of hosting the FIFA World Cup a reality, as outlined in our official bid book. These plans will combine our rich football heritage with our deep passion for the game and will ensure Saudi Arabia’s success as the first nation to host a 48-team tournament in one country,” he said.
Yasser Al-Misehal, President of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF), described the bid book submission and the unveiling of Saudi Arabia’s plans to host the world’s most important football tournament as a significant historical moment for the country, marking a natural step in the development of Saudi Arabia’s football and sports sectors.
