Saudi Arabia’s 2034 World Cup Bid: Fifteen Stadiums Across Five Cities

Saudi Arabia, the sole bidder for the 2034 FIFA World Cup, has unveiled plans to host the tournament across fifteen stadiums in five cities, with eight of these venues located in the capital, Riyadh. The announcement follows the kingdom’s recent formal bid submission to FIFA. According to the bid details reported by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), Saudi Arabia aims to stage the largest-ever World Cup in a single nation.

The proposed host cities include Riyadh, Jeddah, Al Khobar, Abha, and NEOM, the ambitious $500 billion futuristic city. The tournament will feature fifteen advanced stadiums, with eleven of them being newly constructed. Riyadh will host eight of these stadiums, including the new King Salman Stadium, which will have a capacity of over 92,000 and is slated to be the venue for the opening and final matches.

Saudi Arabia was awarded the 2034 World Cup last October by FIFA, succeeding Qatar, which hosted the region’s first World Cup at a cost of $220 billion. To meet the requirements for the 48-team tournament, Saudi Arabia needs 14 all-seater stadiums with a minimum capacity of 40,000. Currently, the kingdom has two such stadiums: Jeddah’s King Abdullah Sports City Stadium and Riyadh’s King Fahd International Stadium, which is undergoing significant renovations.

The country’s focus on upgrading infrastructure reflects its broader strategy to enhance its global image and attract foreign investment through high-profile sports events. In addition to the World Cup, Saudi Arabia will host the 2027 Asian Cup and the 2029 Asian Winter Games. Riyadh will also host the Asian Games in 2034, a major multi-sport event with a scope comparable to the Summer Olympics.