FIFA released Saudi Arabia‘s ambitious plans for the 2034 World Cup, and it involves building 11 new stadiums, including a 46,000-seat venue inside the country’s planned horizontal skyscraper, The Line.
The grand project is another glimpse at the billions of dollars Saudi Arabia is investing in sports as the country seeks to future-proof an economy largely dependent on crude oil and rebrand a region that has been accused of having a poor human rights record, which some critics have panned as a textbook example of “sportswashing.”
“We recognize that our hosting of the Competition would bring opportunity and responsibility to uphold human rights throughout this journey and beyond,” the country’s 2034 FIFA bid book states. “We are confident in our ability to deliver a responsible and respectful tournament as proven by our successful track record in hosting international events.”
FIFA has not officially announced Saudi Arabia as the host nation but the country is expected to be confirmed in December, according to Bloomberg, as no other nation submitted a bid to host the global competition.
In total, the plans call for 15 stadiums — four of which are existing venues that would be refurbished — across five proposed host cities: Abha, Al Khobar, Jeddah, Riyadh, and Neom, the country’s desert “eco-city” currently under construction, which will feature The Line skyscrapers.
A spokesperson for the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) did not respond to a request for comment.
Here’s a look at the stadiums:
The King Salman International Stadium in Riyadh will have the highest seating capacity out of all the venues with a planned 92,760 seats. Target completion date is 2029.
The bid book states that the SAFF plan would involve hosting the opening and final matches of the 2034 World Cup at the venue, which would then become Saudi Arabia’s official national stadium.
The Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Stadium will be built in Riyadh with nearly 47,000 seats and is planned for a 2029 completion date.
Named after the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, the stadium would be located near the cliffs of Tuwaiq.
The NEOM stadium inside The Line will have 46,010 seats and is planned to be completed by 2032.
The stadium is set to act as the “centerpiece” of The Line skyscrapers and will be located 350 meters above ground, the 2034 bid book states. The SAFF deems it “the most unique stadium in the world” featuring vistas and a “roof created from the city itself,” according to the bid book.
The Aramco Stadium, with more than 46,000 seats, will be located in Al Khobar. It’s currently under construction and is set to be completed by 2026.
According to the bid book, the stadium will also be used for the AFC Asian Cup in 2027. The Asian Football Confederation confirmed Saudi Arabia as the host in February 2023.
The Jeddah Central Development Stadium will have a 45,794-seat capacity and is planned to be completed by 2027.
According to the bid book, the stadium will be surrounded by four “villages” for “fan, leisure, retail, educational/medical.” After the 2034 World Cup, the stadium would become the home of two professional football clubs, the book states.
The King Khalid University Stadium is an existing stadium in Abha that will be refurbished by 2032.
The bid book states that the stadium will undergo a “temporary” capacity expansion to 45,428 seats.
The King Abdullah Economic City Stadium will be located in Jeddah and is set to be built with 45,700 seats by 2032.
Three hotels, “mixed-use areas,” and a sports clinic will surround the venue, according to the bid book.
The King Fahad Sports City Stadium is an existing stadium in Riyadh that will be refurbished by 2026 to expand its seating capacity to 70,200.
Currently, the stadium seats more than 58,000 people and is home to the Saudi Arabia national football team. It will also be used for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup, according to the bid book.
The King Abdullah Sports City Stadium is an existing venue with more than 58,000 seats.
The stadium will be refurbished to comply with FIFA regulations and be equipped with the “latest technology and stadium standards,” according to the bid book.
The existing King Saud University Stadium in Riyadh will be refurbished to increase seating capacity from 27,000 to more than 46,000.
With a 2032 completion date, the stadium will be used for collegiate sports after the World Cup, the bid book states.
The New Murabba Stadium will be located in Riyadh and built to seat 46,000 spectators. Planned completion date is 2032.
The design of the stadium is supposed to mimic the “layered overlapping planes and peeling planar texture of the bark of the native acacia tree,” according to the bid book.
The Prince Faisal Bin Fahad Sports City Stadium that’s currently under construction in Riyadh will have 46,865 seats and be completed by 2027.
According to the 2034 bid book, the stadium will sit at the heart of a “wider park site master plan” that will feature a combination of “community sports facilities and open, mixed-use green spaces.”
The Qiddiya Coast Stadium will be built in Jeddah by 2032 with a 46,000 seating capacity.
The stadium, with its ripple-effect design, will be built on the shore of the Red Sea, according to the bid book.
The ROSHN Stadium will be located in Riyadh and contain 46,000 seats. Planned completion date is 2032.
According to the bid book, the “crystalline” structure of the stadium will glow during the night.
The South Riyadh Stadium is planned to be built with 47,060 seats by 2032.
The stadium, which will be located in southwest Riyadh, will be integrated with solar panels, the bid book states.
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