15 stadiums across 5 cities: Saudi Arabia’s FIFA World Cup 2034 roadmap

Saudi Arabia, the sole bidder for the 2034 World Cup, will host the 48-team tournament across fifteen stadiums in five cities, including eight in the capital, Riyadh, according to state media Saudi Press Agency (SPA).

This announcement follows the kingdom’s official bid submission to the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA). Saudi Arabia aims to host “the largest-ever edition” of the tournament in a single country, as detailed in their bid book, which was published by SPA.

The bid book was revealed after Saudi Arabia’s official submission during a FIFA ceremony in Paris. The bid, titled “Growing Together,” has garnered full support from Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

It outlines the kingdom’s extensive plans and infrastructure projects, reflecting Saudi Arabia’s ongoing transformation.

Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal, the minister of sport and president of the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee, said, “Together we are working toward materialising Saudi Arabia’s dream of hosting the FIFA World Cup into a tangible reality — as outlined within our official bid book.”

Yasser Al-Misehal, president of SAFF, added, “Our bid campaign marks our firm commitment to hosting the world’s greatest football tournament, and a deep desire to advance sport and the quality of life for our people.”

“Our country’s love of football is rooted in history, and we want to showcase to FIFA how we will harness this enthusiasm not just in 2034 – but for generations to come. We want to create an enduring legacy to help push Saudi Arabia’s transformation to new heights.”

Infrastructure to be built

The bid book outlines five proposed host cities for the FIFA World Cup 2034 which are Riyadh, Jeddah, Al Khobar, Abha, and NEOM.

• 5 host cities
• 10 host locations
• 15 stadiums
• 16 airports
• 134 training sites
• 230,000-room keys

Host cities

Ambitious stadium plan

To host the 48-team World Cup, the kingdom needs a minimum of 14 all-seater stadiums capable of holding at least 40,000 people, according to the bid document.

It currently has two: Jeddah’s King Abdullah Sports City Stadium and Riyadh’s venerable King Fahd International Stadium, which is undergoing a major refit.

As part of its FIFA 2034 World Cup bid, Saudi Arabia has unveiled plans to construct 11 stadiums across its host cities.

The kingdom’s capital city Riyadh alone 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 of the FIFA World Cup 2034.

Additionally, the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Stadium in Riyadh will be a “remarkable architectural marvel with triple-tiered stands and a stunning view of one of the Tuwaiq cliffs”. The stadium will feature an innovative, futuristic design, with most of its exterior facades covered in colored glass and LED screens, as per the Saudi 2034 bid’s official website.

Riyadh will also include the famous King Fahad Sports City Stadium, which is set to be refurbished to the highest global standards. The stadium is expected to accommodate over 70,000 spectators.

In Jeddah, the new Jeddah Central Development Stadium will feature an architectural design inspired by the area’s rich, local heritage and traditional wooden architecture from the historic Jeddah Al-Balad area.

Meanwhile, the coastal King Abdullah Sports City Stadium will feature a natural design inspired by the stunning coral reefs of the Red Sea – adequately meeting the needs of the vibrant coastal community.

In Al Khobar, the Aramco Stadium will be situated on the Arabian Gulf coast and will feature a dynamic design that is inspired by the sea – symbolising the ‘Dawwama’ whirlpools that appear off the coast during the warm, summer months. From a design perspective, the stadium will include interlocking sails and decorations that mimic natural wave patterns, in harmony with the coastal environment.

In Abha, King Khalid University Stadium – currently used by the University – will undergo a temporary expansion that will increase its capacity to over 45,000 spectators during the tournament. The renovation will modernise the stadium’s existing infrastructure and will ensure its long-term sustainable legacy.

NEOM Stadium is expected to be one of the most distinctive, and iconic stadiums in the world.

The stadium will be situated within The Line – more than 350 meters above ground. It will provide an unprecedented and exceptional experience for fans scheduled to attend tournament matches. Additionally, the stadium will be run entirely on renewable energy, generated primarily from wind and solar sources, marking a historic shift in stadium design, globally.

Here’s the full list of stadiums expected to host FIFA WORLD CUP 2034:

1. King Salman International Stadium
2. King Fahad Sports City Stadium
3. Prince Mohammed bin Salman Stadium
4. New Murabba Stadium
5. ROSHN Stadium
6. Prince Faisal bin Fahad Sports City Stadium
7. South Riyadh Stadium
8. King Saud University Stadium
9. King Abdullah Sports City Stadium
10. Qiddiya Coast Stadium
11. Jeddah Central Development Stadium
12. King Abdullah Economic City Stadium
13. Aramco Stadium
14. King Khalid University Stadium
15. NEOM Stadium

With 15 world-class stadiums, Saudi Arabia’s FIFA World Cup 2034™ vision transcends time, set a decade in advance. #Saudi2034Bid #GrowingTogether pic.twitter.com/mwY9SlEnQP

— CIC Saudi Arabia (@CICSaudi) August 1, 2024

Read: This futuristic PIF-Backed stadium is set to open in 2032

Ancillary infrastructure

Saudi Arabia will have more than 230,000 rooms, available across the five host cities, in alignment with FIFA requirements. These rooms will cater to VIPs, FIFA delegations, participating teams, media personnel, and tournament fans, added the website in.

A total of 132 training venues located across 15 cities are proposed as base camp for the 48 teams, including 72 stadiums designated for Base Camp Training Sites, with referees scheduled to have access to 2 Referee Base Camp Training Sites.

The official bid book outlines the 10 proposed FIFA Fan Festival sites in the kingdom, as FIFA will select one site in each host city from the list that includes King Salman Park in Riyadh, which is set to become the world’s largest urban park.

Other sites include the Jeddah Waterfront on the Red Sea; the Al Bihar square in Abha within the added “Abha Valley” project; the marina within “The Line” project in NEOM; King Abdullah Park in Al Khobar; and other locations that will allow fans to watch matches and enjoy exceptional experiences in a vibrant atmosphere throughout the tournament.

The submission of the bid book to FIFA marks the third stage in the official bid process to secure hosting rights for the 2034 tournament.

The next stages will include official visits by FIFA and a comprehensive evaluation of the bid, leading up to the selection of the host nation for the FIFA World Cup 2034, on December 11, 2024.

Read: Saudi Arabia to build 92,000-seat King Salman Stadium in Riyadh