Saudi Arabia has been officially confirmed by FIFA as host of the 2034 World Cup in men’s soccer, The Saudi bid received a record-high evaluation score of 419.8 out of 500, the highest in the history of World Cup hosting evaluations.
FIFA also confirmed that the 2030 World Cup will be hosted across three continents and six countries, marking the first time in the tournament’s history. The 2030 edition will be jointly hosted by Morocco, Portugal, and Spain. To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the first World Cup, special celebratory matches will take place in Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay.
Saudi Arabia’s Hosting Plans for 2034
The Saudi bid outlines 15 stadiums across five cities as the venues for the matches. The cities include Riyadh, which alone will feature eight stadiums, Jeddah, Al Khobar, Abha, and NEOM. The proposed venues in Riyadh include the new King Salman Stadium, with a capacity of over 92,000 spectators, which will host both the opening and final matches, serving as the primary venue for the Saudi national team.
The proposal also highlights the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Stadium in Qiddiya, situated atop the Tuwaiq Mountains with a groundbreaking futuristic design, and King Fahd Sports City Stadium, which is undergoing upgrades to accommodate over 70,000 fans.
In Jeddah, the central venue will be the Jeddah Central Stadium, inspired by traditional local architecture and the wooden designs of the Al-Balad district, alongside the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium (Al-Jawhara).
In Al Khobar, the Aramco Stadium will be located along the Arabian Gulf coast, with a design resembling summer whirlpools near the coast. Further south, the King Khalid University Stadium in Abha will be expanded to seat over 45,000 spectators temporarily for the tournament.
Finally, the NEOM Stadium, situated over 350 meters high within the futuristic “The Line” project, is envisioned as the most unique football venue globally. It will be powered by renewable energy sources such as wind and solar, setting a new standard for sustainable football venues.
