Saudi Arabia have announced plans to prepare 15 football stadiums for the 2034 men’s FIFA World Cup, with the country expected to be officially confirmed as the host in an upcoming FIFA executive meeting in December, Soccernet.football reports.
Five cities have been designated for hosting matches: Riyadh, Jeddah, Al Khobar, Abha, and Neom, a newly developing urban area in the northwest. Each stadium, whether newly constructed or upgraded, will meet FIFA’s requirement of over 40,000 seats.
“These stadiums will feature the latest technologies that will enhance the experience for all fans,” stated Yasser Almisehal, president of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation.
Riyadh, also the host city for the 2030 World Expo, will see the opening and final matches held at the King Salman Stadium, which will accommodate over 92,000 spectators upon completion.
Saudi Arabia’s selection as a World Cup host marks a significant change from just a few years ago when the kingdom was relatively closed to foreign visitors.
This shift is part of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Vision 2030 initiative, aiming to diversify the economy away from oil dependency through investments in sports, tourism, and entertainment.
The kingdom has significantly invested in its local football league, now home to stars such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema.
In addition, Saudi Arabia is pushing forward with ambitious projects across various sectors, despite having to scale back or delay some plans. Hosting the World Cup is seen as a priority.
The 2034 World Cup will be the second in the Gulf region, following Qatar’s hosting in 2022.
Unlike Qatar, which held the tournament in November and December to avoid the summer heat, Saudi Arabia claims it will be prepared to host during any part of the year. Major cities such as Riyadh and Jeddah often see temperatures reaching 40 degrees Celsius in July and August.
“We will have discussions with FIFA and other confederations about the timing, and we are ready to host it at any time,” Almisehal added.
The kingdom plans to offer over 230,000 rooms across the five host cities for fans and teams. Additionally, Saudi Arabia has been selected to host the 2027 Asian Football Cup and the 2029 Asian Winter Games at a mountain resort in Neom.