Saudi Arabia reveals stadium plans for 2034 FIFA World Cup

Plans for Saudi Arabia to build 11 new stadiums and refurbish four existing ones to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup have been revealed.

Publishing the bid books for both the 2030 and 2034 World Cups, the FIFA document shows Saudi Arabia’s ambitious proposals for the latter tournament will include eight venues in the capital city of Riyadh as part of a ‘compact’ tournament concept that will take place in just five cities.

Three new stadium projects have been announced in recent weeks ahead of the bid book being published last week.

Each located in the Saudi capital they are the 45,000 capacity ROSHN Stadium, 92,000 capacity King Salman Stadium and the 45,000 capacity New Murabba Stadium.

Other planned venues in the capital include Prince Mohammed bin Salman Stadium (46,979 capacity) and South Riyadh Stadium (47,060 capacity). Three more new venues are planned in the shape of Qiddiya Coast Stadium (Jeddah, 46,096 capacity), King Abdullah Economic City Stadium (Jeddah, 45,700 capacity) and NEOM Stadium (46,010 capacity).

The four existing stadiums put forward in the Saudi bid are King Fahad Sports City and King Saud University Stadium in Riyadh, King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah and King Khalid University Stadium in Abha.

Both King Fahad Sports City Stadium and King Abdullah Sports City Stadium will be refurbished ahead of the FIFA World Cup, with the former already being renovated ahead of the 2027 Asian Cup. King Saud University Stadium and King Khalid University Stadium will have their capacities temporarily increased for the tournament.

Three more stadiums are also currently under construction: Aramco Stadium in Al Khobar, Prince Faisal bin Fahad Sports City Stadium in Riyadh and Jeddah Central Development Stadium in Jeddah. Aramco Stadium is set to be ready by 2026, with Prince Faisal bin Fahad Sports City Stadium and Jeddah Central Development Stadium to be completed by 2027.

Riyadh’s King Salman Stadium, which will serve as the new home of the Saudi national team, is set to host the opening match and the final of the tournament. All new stadiums are scheduled to be completed by 2032.

The bid book also offers a first look at NEOM Stadium - part of the NEOM development on Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast - which has been touted as the ‘most unique stadium in the world’. The stadium will feature a pitch situated more than 350 metres above ground.

The bid book was handed over on Monday by the Saudi Arabia Minister of Sports, Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal, the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) President, Yasser Al Misehal and Hammad Albalawi, the head of the SAFF’s bidding unit.

The bid book advises “we recognise that our hosting of the Competition would bring opportunity and responsibility to uphold human rights throughout this journey and beyond.

"We are confident in our ability to deliver a responsible and respectful tournament as proven by our successful track record in hosting international events."

All venues are scheduled to be completed by 2032.

Images (from top): Concepts for the King Salman International Stadium in Riyadh, the NEOM Stadium, the Qiddiya Coast Stadium in Jeddah and the King Khalid University Stadium in Riyadh. Credit: Saudi Arabian Football Federation.