KSA Proposes Five Host Cities for FIFA World Cup 2034

Saudi Arabia has submitted a bid to host the largest-ever edition of the FIFA World Cup held in a single country, unveiling details during a ceremony in Paris, France. The official bid slogan, "Growing. Together.," has received the backing of Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman.^[1]  

The bid book is submitted by an official Saudi delegation led by Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki bin Faisal, Minister of Sport and President of the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee.

Five cities are proposed as host locations for the FIFA World Cup 2034: Riyadh, Jeddah, Al Khobar, Abha, and NEOM. These cities will feature 15 advanced stadiums, including 11 new ones. 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. The Prince Mohammed bin Salman Stadium in Riyadh will feature triple-tiered stands and a view of the Tuwaiq cliffs, with a futuristic design. The refurbished King Fahad Sports City Stadium will accommodate over 70,000 spectators.

In Jeddah, the new Jeddah Central Development Stadium will feature a 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 sea-inspired design. 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 plan includes ten 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 also outlines ten 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.

Saudi Arabia revealed blueprints for a stadium with a capacity of 92,000, designed to host significant sporting events, as the kingdom positions itself to potentially host the 2034 World Cup.

It aligns with Vision 2030's sports goals to advance Saudi Arabia's sports infrastructure. Hosting major global events will enhance investment and the local economy through its sporting and commercial amenities.  This comes after Saudi Arabia announced plans to host the first Olympic Esports Games in 2025 through an agreement with the International Olympic Committee.

Saudi Arabia launched an annual Esports World Cup, currently being held in Riyadh from July 3 to August 25, which features popular games and has the largest prize pool in Esports history.