Saudi plans to host FIFA WC 2034 in 5 major cities

The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) has unveiled details of Saudi Arabia’s ambitious bid to host the largest-ever edition of the FIFA World Cup held in a single country. This announcement follows Saudi Arabia’s official bid book submission for the FIFA World Cup 2034 at a FIFA ceremony in Paris, France. The official bid, under the slogan "Growing. Together", outlines Saudi Arabia’s extensive plans and infrastructure projects.

The bid book outlines five proposed host cities for the FIFA World Cup 2034: Riyadh, Jeddah, Al Khobar, Abha, and NEOM – one of the Kingdom’s most significant future city projects.

The five host cities will feature 15 advanced stadiums, including 11 new planned stadiums. Riyadh will host 8 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. The bid book outlines 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.