• Saudi Arabia will host the 2034 World Cup across five cities: Riyadh, Jeddah, Al Khobar, Abha, and Neom.
Saudi Arabia’s bid to host the 2034 World Cup includes plans for 48 teams across 15 stadiums in five cities. Key venues will include King Salman Stadium in Riyadh, which is set to host both the opening and final matches, according to Q8-Press.
The Saudi Press Agency published details of the bid, revealing that the World Cup will be held across five cities: Riyadh, Jeddah, Al Khobar, Abha, and Neom.
The matches will take place in 15 stadiums in these cities, with the new King Salman Stadium in Riyadh hosting the opening and closing matches. The stadium will serve as a key venue for the Saudi team.
Groundbreaking design
In Riyadh, specifically in the Qiddiya region, Prince Mohammed bin Salman Stadium will be situated on one of the peaks of Jabal Tuwaiq. The stadium features a groundbreaking design with stained glass and LED screens on most of its exterior facade.
70,000 spectators
One of the stadiums in Riyadh hosting matches will be the renowned King Fahd Sports City Stadium, which will be upgraded to meet the latest international standards, increasing its capacity to over 70,000 spectators.
In addition to this stadium, the bid includes King Saud University Stadium, the new square stadium, Prince Faisal bin Fahd Sports City Stadium, Roshan Stadium, and another stadium in southern Riyadh.
Architectural design
In Jeddah, the new downtown stadium will feature an architectural design inspired by local heritage and the traditional wooden architecture of historic Jeddah Al-Balad. Meanwhile, the coastal stadium in King Abdullah Economic City will cater to the vibrant community and showcase a design inspired by the stunning coral reefs of the Red Sea.
Jeddah will also feature Qiddiya Beach Stadium, King Abdullah Economic City Stadium, and King Abdullah Sports City Stadium.
In Al-Khobar, the new Aramco Stadium, located on the shore of the Arabian Gulf, boasts a dynamic design inspired by the sea, simulating the ‘swirls’ that appear off the coast during summer. In Abha, King Khalid University Stadium, which is undergoing temporary expansion to increase its capacity to 45,000 spectators, will also be a host stadium.
Historic leap in stadium design
The NEOM Stadium is expected to be the most distinctive stadium globally, situated at over 350 meters within ‘The Line’ structure. It will offer an exceptional and unprecedented experience for football matches, with wind and solar energy as its primary power sources, representing a historic leap in stadium design worldwide.
To leverage Saudi Arabia’s diverse geographical areas, the hosting plan will extend to ten cities supporting the main host cities. Some of these cities will host team camps before and during the tournament. They are noted for their tourist attractions, allowing participating teams and visitors to explore the Kingdom’s cultural heritage and enjoy unique tourist experiences during the event.
Regarding accommodations, the plan includes over 230,000 rooms distributed among host cities, supporting cities, FIFA delegations, participating teams, media professionals, and tournament fans.
Regarding training centers, 132 locations have been proposed across 15 cities to accommodate the 48 participating teams and their delegations. This includes 72 stadiums dedicated to training camps and two training centers for referees.
FIFA Fan Festival
The nomination file also details ten potential locations in the host cities for the FIFA Fan Festival™, with FIFA set to select one location per city. Notable proposed sites include King Salman Park in Riyadh, which is set to become the largest urban park in the world.
Other proposed sites are the Jeddah waterfront on the Red Sea, Seas Square in Abha within the ‘Abha Valley’ project, the marina in the ‘The Line’ project in Neom, King Abdullah Park in Khobar, and additional areas designed to offer the public exceptional viewing experiences and a unique entertainment atmosphere throughout the tournament.
