Saudi Arabia's Ambitious Bid for the 2034 World Cup
Saudi Arabia has proposed five cities as hosts for the 2034 FIFA World Cup, including NEOM, one of the kingdom's futuristic projects still under construction, official sources reported on Wednesday.
Riyadh, Jeddah, Al Khobar, Abha, and NEOM are the five cities included in the official bid submitted to FIFA, according to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA). This event would be the largest edition of a World Cup held in a single country.
The official slogan of the bid, titled "Growing Together," has the support of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the de facto leader of the kingdom.
So far, this is the only bid to host the 2034 World Cup.
Saudi Sports Minister Abdulaziz bin Turki bin Faisal Al Saud stated that they are working "to turn Saudi Arabia's dream of hosting the World Cup into a tangible reality."
"These plans will combine our rich football heritage with our deep passion for the game and ensure Saudi Arabia's success as the first nation to host a 48-team tournament in a single country," he affirmed, according to SPA.
The five host cities will feature 15 advanced stadiums, including 11 new stadiums planned for construction.
Riyadh will host eight stadiums for World Cup matches, including the new King Salman Stadium, with a capacity of over 92,000 spectators. This stadium will host the opening match and the final of the tournament, and it will become the new home field for the Saudi national team.
The stadium in NEOM is expected to be "one of the most distinctive and iconic in the world," located in "The Line," another sustainable project within NEOM.
A total of 132 training facilities in 15 cities are proposed as base camps for the 48 teams, including 72 stadiums designated as base training fields. Additionally, referees will have access to two specific base training fields.