Saudi Arabia has included plans to construct 11 new stadiums, including one to be built 350 metres above ground, as part of its formal bid to stage the 2034 FIFA World Cup.
Saudi Arabia has submitted its formal bid to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup, unveiling bold and futuristic plans, including an extraordinary stadium to be built 350 metres above ground. The proposal is part of the bid book revealed in Paris on Wednesday, marking a major step toward realising the Middle Eastern kingdom’s dream of staging the global football tournament.
The centrepiece of Saudi Arabia’s vision is a new 45,000-seat stadium to be located in Neom, a planned “Future City” still under construction and expected to be completed by 2039. The stadium will be carved into a cliff edge within The Line, an innovative linear smart city designed to float above the ground. Access to this iconic structure will be limited to driverless vehicles and high-speed lifts, offering fans an unprecedented viewing experience.
“This stadium will be one of the most distinctive and iconic venues in the world,” according to the Saudi bid book. Moreover, it is set to be powered entirely by renewable energy from wind and solar sources, representing a groundbreaking shift in stadium design on a global scale.
The 2034 World Cup, featuring 48 teams, is planned across five Saudi cities: Riyadh, Jeddah, Al Khobar, Abha, and Neom. Riyadh alone will host eight stadiums, including the proposed King Salman Stadium, with a capacity of 92,000, which is expected to host both the opening match and the final.
Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki bin Faisal Al Saud, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Sport, expressed confidence in the bid. “Together, we are working towards materialising Saudi Arabia’s dream of hosting the FIFA World Cup into a tangible reality,” 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.”
Currently, Saudi Arabia is the only country bidding to host the 2034 event, with FIFA expected to announce the host nation later in 2024. Meanwhile, the tournaments for 2026 and 2030 are already allocated to North America and a joint Spain-Portugal-Morocco bid, respectively.
If successful, Saudi Arabia’s futuristic and sustainable stadium plans could set a new standard for the future of sporting venues worldwide.
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