Saudi Arabia to Host 2034 FIFA World Cup: A Historic Milestone for the Kingdom
ISLAMABAD:Saudi Arabia has been awarded the prestigious honor of hosting the 2034 FIFA World Cup, marking a monumental achievement for the kingdom in its quest to bring international sporting events to its shores. The announcement was made following a thorough review of Saudi Arabia’s bid, which was lauded for its ambitious plans and world-class infrastructure.
In a statement, the Kingdom’s leadership expressed gratitude for this remarkable success. “We extend our congratulations to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and the Crown Prince, who have been the architects of the nation’s vision and global projects, taking us to great heights. We also congratulate the people of Saudi Arabia for this tremendous achievement,” the statement read.
Saudi Arabia is set to make history by becoming the first country to host the largest edition of the World Cup, with 48 national teams competing across five cities. This follows the approval of FIFA’s new system for the tournament, which was confirmed earlier this year. Saudi Arabia’s official bid to host the 2034 World Cup was submitted in July 2023 under the slogan “We Grow Together,” revealing plans to host matches in 15 stadiums across Riyadh, Jeddah, Khobar, Abha, and Neom, alongside 10 other venues.
### Vision for the 2034 World Cup
The goal of hosting the 2034 FIFA World Cup is to offer exceptional experiences for players and fans from around the world, with state-of-the-art facilities and accommodations designed to meet the diverse needs of visitors. Saudi Arabia is also focusing on environmental sustainability and the long-term viability of its projects. A modern transportation system will ensure fans can easily travel to and from the stadiums.
In October 2023, a FIFA official delegation visited Saudi Arabia to review the details of the country’s bid, including the host cities and the infrastructure plans laid out for the World Cup. The bid scored an impressive 420 points out of 500, making it the highest-rated bid in the history of the tournament. FIFA President Gianni Infantino praised the Kingdom’s bid, calling it “complete” and emphasizing that “the 2034 World Cup will be unique and unprecedented.”
### New Stadiums and Infrastructure
Saudi Arabia has committed to building 15 stadiums for the event, 11 of which will be newly constructed. These stadiums will have a total seating capacity of over 775,000 spectators. Eight stadiums will be located in Riyadh, four in Jeddah, and one each in Khobar, Abha, and Neom. The King Salman Stadium, scheduled to begin construction next year and completed by 2029, will be the jewel of the new stadiums, with a capacity of over 92,000 seats. The opening and final matches of the World Cup will take place at this iconic venue.
In addition to the 15 main stadiums, 10 other cities—Baha, Jazan, Taif, Madinah, Umluj, Al-Ula, Tabuk, Hail, Al-Ahsa, and Buraidah—will host national team camps in the lead-up to and during the tournament. These cities will play a vital role in supporting the tournament’s logistics and operations.
### Hotels and Accommodations for Fans
With 48 teams participating, Saudi Arabia expects a record number of fans to visit during the tournament. To accommodate them, the Kingdom is preparing over 232,000 hotel units across five cities where matches will be held. As of now, Riyadh, Jeddah, Khobar, Neom, and Abha already have 47,000 hotel units ready, and an additional 185,000 units are under construction.
Moreover, Saudi Arabia has designated 10 zones in the host cities for fan celebrations and events. The largest of these zones will be Riyadh’s King Salman Park, which will be able to accommodate up to 80,000 spectators.
### A Bright Future Ahead
Saudi Arabia’s success in securing the 2034 World Cup reflects its ongoing rapid development in various sectors, including hospitality, tourism, healthcare, and sports. According to Yasser Al-Mishal, president of the Saudi Football Federation, the country has allocated substantial resources to ensure the success of the World Cup. He emphasized that the Kingdom’s recent developments in infrastructure, alongside its broader Vision 2030 objectives, will make Saudi Arabia one of the world’s largest construction markets by 2028.
This is a landmark moment for Saudi Arabia, a nation that continues to make bold strides in global sports and beyond. As the country celebrates this achievement, its dreams and aspirations have become a reality, marking a new chapter in its history.
“Congratulations to us all. Our dreams have become a reality, and we are living it today,” said the statement, encapsulating the nation’s pride in this monumental accomplishment.
