Saudi Arabia added its sporting equivalent of a jewel to the crown after it managed to secure the hosting rights for the 2034 World Cup. With the country’s dubious human rights record and critics dubbing the Saudis’ huge spending on sporting events as ‘sports washing’ to boost their stature and prestige, they have elaborated plans to turn it into a spectacle.
According to FIFA’s report on Saudi Arabia’s World Cup bid, it has proposed 15 stadiums for the tournament, of which 8 are described as planned new-builds, three are under construction and four already exist, although some of them will be renovated.
King Salman International Stadium (Riyadh): The planned stadium will host the opener and final, the Saudis proposed in the bid document. It is set to come north-east of Riyadh due to its proximity to the airport. It will be completed by 2030 and will be Saudi’s home ground.
Prince Mohammed bin Salman Stadium (Riyadh): Located southwest of Riyadh, it is expected to host matches, including a third-place playoff. According to FIFA documents it will have a unique ‘three-sided design and will be integrated into a cliff-side location’. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2026 and is expected to be completed in 2029. It will also host two Saudi Pro League sides, but only after the 2034 World Cup, as a multi-purpose entertainment venue.
NEOM Stadium (NEOM): It is one of the most famous stadiums. It is planned to be built 350 meters above the ground in Neom, the future city under construction. This is the first phase of the line, a development plan that will run on renewable energy and sustainable transport. The stadium will use giant express lifts for vertical transport, as well as horizontally integrated metros, and diagonal pedestrian paths to ‘create a three-dimensional approach to mobility’, the FIFA document said.
Kiddiya Coast Stadium (Jeddah): Located north of Jeddah on the Red Sea coast, the stadium will have a unique design that will resemble the Mexican Wave. According to FIFA documents, after the World Cup, the capacity will be reduced and a retractable pitch will be used to facilitate a multi-purpose entertainment venue at the heart of the Kiddia Coast development.
Its retractable pitch will also facilitate the hosting of e-sports and concerts after the World Cup. The upper level seating will also be removed during and after the event to create a 25,000-capacity venue, down from 46,096-capacity during the World Cup.
King Abdullah Economic City Stadium (Jeddah): The planned state-of-the-art stadium is expected to host matches up to the Round of 32 and is located on the Red Sea coast north of Jeddah. Construction will begin in 2027 and is expected to be completed by 2032.
After the World Cup, it will serve as a multipurpose entertainment venue at the center of the King Abdullah Economic City development and the stadium complex will be open to the community to facilitate connection with nature, the FIFA document said.
New Murabba Stadium (Riyadh): Another proposed stadium, which will host matches up to the round of 32 fixtures, will have a roof structure whose design is based on the bark of the native acacia tree and will come up in the north-west of Riyadh. Construction will begin next year and is targeted for completion by 2029.
Roshan Stadium (Riyadh): It will be built in the south-west of Riyadh with a planned structure with a crystalline design that will integrate with the spaces in the surrounding neighborhood. Work is expected to begin in 2028 and be completed by 2032.
South Riyadh Stadium (Riyadh): This new stadium will be built in the south-west of Riyadh and will be connected to Wadi Namar Park and will be part of the Green Riyadh project. Construction of the stadium will begin in 2029 and be completed by 2032.
Stadiums Under Construction: Prince Faisal Bin Fahad Sports City Stadium, Jeddah Central Development Stadium, Aramco Stadium
Possible dates
Although Saudi Arabia has not confirmed it, it could be held in winter like the Qatar edition in 2022. In the document, the Middle Eastern country said temperatures between October and April are the mildest. During these seven months, the average daily temperature ranges between 15 and 30 degrees. Between May and September, however, the average daily temperature is between 17 and 38 degrees.
As Saudi will host the 2034 Asian Games in Riyadh from November 29 to December 14, it may not be possible to host the FIFA World Cup in the country at this time. Organizers also take into account Ramadan, the month of prayer and fasting that falls between mid-November and mid-December.
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