FIFA unveiled on Wednesday details of Saudi Arabia's ambitious bid to host the largest-ever edition of the FIFA World Cup held in a single country.
The announcement follows Saudi Arabia’s FIFA World Cup 2034 official bid book submission at an official FIFA ceremony held in Paris, France.
The official bid slogan, titled “Growing. Together” has received full support from Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister.
The official bid book outlines Saudi Arabia’s extensive plans and infrastructure projects and reflects the Kingdom's historic transformation. It provides the Kingdom’s plan to successfully stage one of the world's largest and most important sporting events, the FIFA World Cup.
On the occasion of the publication, Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki bin Faisal Al Saud, Minister of Sport and President of the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee, expressed his appreciation to the leadership for their unlimited support of the Kingdom’s sports sector, and to the Crown Prince for his continuous guidance and significant empowerment over Saudi Arabia's official World Cup bid.
“Together, we are working towards materializing Saudi Arabia's dream of hosting the World Cup into a tangible reality – as outlined within our official bid book,” he said.
“These plans will combine our rich football heritage with our deep passion for the game and will ensure Saudi Arabia’s success as the first nation to host a 48-team tournament in one country,” he added.
President of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) Yasser Al-Misehal described the submission of the formal bid book and the unveiling of the Kingdom's plans to host the world's most important football tournament as a significant historical moment for Saudi Arabia.
It is a moment that marks the natural step in the journey of developing Saudi Arabia's football and sports sectors.
He expressed hope that the Kingdom's comprehensive plans to host the World Cup would excite football fans worldwide and inspire them for generations to come.
An official SAFF delegation led by Prince Abdulaziz officially submitted the formal bid book at a FIFA ceremony held in Paris on Monday. It was a significant step that underscores Saudi Arabia's strong desire to contribute to the development and growth of football, and invite fans from around the world to participate in writing the success story of this event.
The formal 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 globally.
The five host cities will feature 15 advanced stadiums, including 11 new, planned stadiums. Riyadh will be home to eight stadiums for the matches, 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 tournament. It will become the new home ground for the Saudi national team.
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.
Riyadh will also include the famed 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 – symbolizing 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 modernize 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. The stadium will be run entirely on renewable energy, generated primarily from wind and solar sources, marking a historic shift in stadium design, globally.
Leveraging the Kingdom's diverse and picturesque geography, the hosting plan includes 10 other host locations that are scheduled to be the home of some of the training camps for participating teams before and during the tournament. These cities are known for their iconic tourist attractions, which will provide participating teams and fans an opportunity to explore the Kingdom's ancient cultural heritage during the tournament.
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.
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 two Referee Base Camp Training Sites.
