With one decade to go until the FIFA World Cup 2034, Saudi Arabia has already started preparing to host the football competition. Although the official vote to select the host country for the 2034 sporting event will only take place in December, with no other bidders, Saudi Arabia has been de facto chosen to welcome the tournament in a decade.
The official bid book, outlining the entire plan for how the country aims to prepare for the championship was presented to FIFA President Gianni Infantino and FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafström on 29 July by Saudi Minister of Sports, Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal, Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) President, Yasser Al Misehal, the head of SAFF’s bidding unit, Hammad Albalawi.
Amid other details, such as ensuring accommodation and transport for participants and spectators as well as their safety, the book includes details on the 15 stadiums the tournament is set to take place in, 11 of which are yet to be built. Besides the capital of Riyadh, games will take place in Jeddah, Al Khobar, Abha and Neom.
1. King Salman International Stadium – Riyadh
Slated for construction between 2025 and 2029, King Salman International Stadium is designed to become the highest capacity stadium in Saudi Arabia and a major new centre for sports and recreation. With capacity to seat 92,000 visitors, the arena will host the opening and final matches of the FIFA World Cup 2034.
The stadium will blend into its surrounding topography, with terrain and natural habitat forming part of its roof. Aside from its aesthetic appeal, this design will provide effective shading and ventilation tailored to the desert climate. Just minutes northeast of Riyadh, close to the airport, facilitating easy local and international access, the stadium will blend into its surrounding topography, with terrain and natural habitat forming part of its roof, designed to provide effective shading and ventilation tailored to the desert climate.
After the World Cup, the arena will become Saudi Arabia’s official national stadium. As the highest seated capacity stadium in the country, it will also accommodate the most significant national events, including the largest concerts and sporting competitions.
2. King Fahad Sports City Stadium – Riyadh
One of the few already existing arenas, the King Fahad Sports City Stadium should be refurbished by 2026, increasing its capacity from 58,000 to over 70,000 spectators, making it ready to host the semi-final matches.
One of the most iconic venues in the region, the stadium recognisable for its distinctive fabric roof inspired by traditional tents, integrating with the wider city community. Its location is near several attractions such as the Wadi As-Sulai and the planned Sports Boulevard that will provide access to green spaces and natural surroundings.
Currently the home of the Saudi Arabian national football team, after the 2034 tournament, the arena will serve as a multi-purpose sports and entertainment venue. “The refurbishment master plan will allow for a wide range of uses, from football matches to concerts, festivals and fairs”, the bid book explains
3. Prince Mohammed bin Salman Stadium – Riyadh
To be built between 2026 and 2029, the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Stadium is planned as a state-of-the-art stadium, with a capacity just 21 seats under 47,000 people. The stadium will be situated approximately 35km southwest of Riyadh, in the broader Qiddiya development, which will include a range of additional sporting facilities, accommodation and other facilities, creating a sporting hub for Riyadh for years to come.
The arena has been designed to optimise the spectator experience, featuring a three-sided arrangement to allow for views out towards the Tuwaiq cliffs. Its materials, blending iridescent glass, LED glass and screens, solar panels and perforated shimmering metal contribute to the stadium’s futuristic aesthetic.
After the FIFA World Cup 2034, the stadium will be a “highly flexible entertainment venue” used by professional football clubs and for other sporting events and tournaments, as well as concerts and e-sports championships. It will also contain an Olympic Museum, showcasing Saudi Olympic and Paralympic legacies.
4. New Murabba Stadium – Riyadh
To be constructed between 2027 and 2032, the New Murabba Stadium will have a capacity of just over 46,000 people.
Its design replicates the layered overlapping planes and peeling planar texture of the bark of the native acacia tree. The stadium will integrate the latest sporting venue technology, creating “an exceptional, personalised fan experience”. Digital signage and activation will create fully customisable, experiential zones.
After 2034, the stadium will be used to host concerts, gaming and other entertainment events. “In addition, external shaded spaces will encourage vibrant city life, with opportunities for outdoor seating and dining outlets”, the Saudi bid says.
5. ROSHN Stadium – Riyadh
Planned for construction between 2028 and 2032, the ROSHN Stadium will be able to accommodate 46,000 spectators in southwest Riyadh. While optimized for major football events, it aims to become the heart of the neighbourhood, with a different look and feel than a typical sports venue.
The stadium is designed as a dynamic part of the urban fabric, encouraging the community to walk around and through the facility. It will sit in a central plaza, surrounded by the bowl’s “crystalline” structure, a delicate latticework that will glow in the night sky. The saddle shaped seating bowl and envelope should ensure spectators’ comfort, with different stand heights enabling shading and cross ventilation, while the parabolic geometry will act as an acoustic amplifier, creating an immersive, celebratory experience.
Repurposed into retail, dining and entertainment facilities, hospitality and offices after the World Cup, the arena will “anchor a walkable community with green spaces, public squares and amenities, promoting a lifestyle based on cultural activities and social connections.” It will also offer mixed-use sports facilities and education, and host major tournaments, large events and concerts.
6. Prince Faisal bin Fahad Sports City Stadium – Riyadh
Already under construction, the Prince Faisal bin Fahad Sports City Stadium should be completed in 2027, with a capacity of almost 47,000 people. The arena will be part of a wider park site master plan that is intended to provide the local population with a combination of community sports facilities and open, mixed-use green spaces.
The design draws inspiration from the “culturally contextualized modernism” principles of Salmani architecture. The stadium will be built with locally produced materials and use energy efficient systems, including extensive solar panels on the roof.
After FIFA 2034, the venue will be home to a professional football club and will be used primarily to host major matches. The stadium will also be used for concerts, international events and future sporting tournaments, while the green spaces around it will be used by the community for leisure activities.
7. South Riyadh Stadium – Riyadh
To be built between 2029 and 2032, the South Riyadh Stadium will have a capacity of just over 47,000 in south-west Riyadh, connected to the Wadi Namar and its future development as part of Green Riyadh Project. The surrounding area has room for open spaces and marketplaces and to incorporate green spaces after the competition.
Also inspired by Salmani architecture, the venue’s façade “façade blends modernity with the rich architectural language and material palette of the area”. Moreover, the stadium and its precinct have been designed with sustainability principles in mind, with native, drought-resistant plants minimising water usage and creating a landscape that adapts to the arid climate, while rainwater harvesting systems will ensure responsible water management and solar panels integrated into the stadium’s design will sustainably power the arena.
After 2034, the venue will be home to a professional football club and host major sporting and entertainment events. “The precinct will further contribute to a legacy of community engagement, ensuring that the stadium will be a cherished landmark for Wadi Namar”, the bid book explains.
8. King Saud University Stadium – Riyadh
Another existing stadium, the King Saud University Stadium is the current home of Al Nassr football club and will be used for the AFC Asian Cup in 2027 before its refurbishment between 2030 and 2032. With a current capacity of approximately 27,000, the stadium will be expanded temporarily to 46,000 for the FIFA World Cup 2034.
The refurbished stadium will include an elliptical lightweight spoke wheel roof and placement of amenities that ensure accessibility and adherence to FIFA guidelines. Located on the university’s campus, in the west of Riyadh, the stadium is surrounded by additional sports facilities outside its perimeter, including an arena, swimming pool and tennis court. The stadium is located next to the U Walk – another King Saud University mixed-use development with commercial and retail offerings.
After the World Cup, a portion of the upper tier will be removed, reducing the venue’s capacity to 33,000. It will be home to King Saud University teams and used for university sport, community use and women’s football.
9. King Abdullah Sports City Stadium – Jeddah
Also planned for refurbishment between 2030 and 2032, after the AFC Asian Cup in 2027. Built in 2014, it is currently the country’s second largest stadium with capacity to seat more than 58,000 spectators. The planned refurbishments will update the stadium to ensure compliance with all FIFA requirements, align with the latest technology and stadium standards and be carefully integrated into the existing architecture.
Also known as “The Shining Jewel” for its distinctive geometric architecture, the venue is located to the north of central Jeddah, close to the airport. Beyond the main arena, the precinct has a variety of sports facilities, including outdoor football training pitches, outdoor athletics track, tennis courts and a large multi-purpose sports hall. Within the “sports city”, there are additional facilities for the community, including a referees and players building and a theatre.
After the FIFA 2034, the stadium will be used for the national team and other international football matches. “The whole sports city will continue as a centre for sporting facilities and excellence, with the stadium hosting a range of sports tournaments and entertainment events”, the Saudis explain.
10. Qiddiya Coast Stadium – Jeddah
To be built between 2029 and 2032, the Qiddiya Coast Stadium will have a capacity of just over 46,000 people, in the northern part of Jeddah, on the shore of the Red Sea, at the heart of the Qiddiya Coast Development, with other sporting infrastructure and hotels within a one-kilometre distance.
Designed as a “physical representation of the vibrant relationship between people and water, energy and matter”, the building is meant to evoke the ripple effect of a “Mexican wave”, with a rich, joyful and vibrant colour palette. The surrounding precinct will be composed of distinct spaces that “flow alongside and into one another, providing ample space for supporters and communities to congregate outside of the stadium.”
After 2034, the stadium will serve as a “versatile and dynamic multipurpose entertainment venue”. The design allows for the removal of the upper tier for legacy purposes, leaving a 25,000-capacity arena. Curtains, partitions and the removable football pitch will allow the facility to host e-sports events, exhibitions, concerts and conferences, as well as other major sports tournaments.
11. Jeddah Central Development Stadium – Jeddah
With construction having already started this year, the Jeddah Central Development Stadium should be completed by 2027, with a capacity of over 45,000 spectators, in the southwest of Jeddah, in the coastal Al Andalus area.
The design echoes the traditional architecture of Jeddah’s historic Al Balad district, while embracing technological advancements and innovative building design. It features three tiers, with an outer concourse connected to four surrounding “villages” (fan, leisure, retail and educational/medical), which are planned to integrate the stadium into its surroundings, offering visitors a range of amenities and experiences. The stadium bowl is fully covered by a semi-translucent roof, with a retractable inner roof and a 360° LED screen.
After the World Cup, the venue will be home to two professional football clubs and will also host other sporting events, as well as conferences, exhibitions and concerts.
12. King Abdullah Economic City Stadium – Jeddah
To be constructed between 2027 and 2032, the King Abdullah Economic City Stadium will have a 45,700 capacity, serving the emerging King Abdullah Economic City area on the Red Sea Coast north of Jeddah.
Developed as a multifunctional hub with economic prosperity, environmental sustainability and community integration in mind, the venue’s design and aesthetic are inspired by how local Red Sea coral reefs grow and adapt. Additional facilities will exist outside of the stadium, including three hotels, retail units, mixed-use areas and a sports clinic.
After the FIFA World Cup 2034, the main stadium itself will be used mainly as a venue for football, concerts and exhibitions, while the precinct as a whole will “emphasize community spaces, with expansive green areas allowing residents to connect with nature.”
13. Aramco Stadium – Al Khobar
Another venue for which construction is already underway, the Aramco Stadium should be completed by 2026, in time for the following year’s AFC Asian Cup, with an over 46,000 visitors’ capacity in the north of Al Khobar, close to the Corniche.
“On the shore of the Arabian Gulf, the stadium’s architecture celebrates the sea’s dynamic nature and its profound influence on the local community. Its whirlpool-shaped design (a reference to the Dawwama that occurs just off the coastline during summer months) mimics overlapping sails and draws on graceful, natural wave motifs, to blend seamlessly with the coastal landscape”, the bid book explains. “Its strategic location and distinctive design will make it an iconic landmark, visible from vantage points across the city.”
After the 2034 championship, the stadium will be home to a professional football club. The site will also include training facilities, as well as commercial and retail spaces.
14. King Khalid University Stadium – Abha
The King Khalid University Stadium is, located southeast of Abha City within the university campus, will undergo a temporary expansion to increase its capacity to over 45,000 spectators.
The refurbishment, to take place between 2030 and 2032, will add a permanent new west stand and an upgraded technological infrastructure, while preserving the building’s historical significance. The surrounding precinct will also undergo enhancements for the duration of the competition, including additional amenities to accommodate the anticipated increase in foot traffic.
After FIFA, the stadium will serve as the permanent home for a professional football club. Additionally, the university and the broader community will continue to have access to the venue for various purposes, including sporting events, community development programs and summer training facilities
15. NEOM Stadium – NEOM
Despite recent doubts over the completion of NEOM and of the Line in particular, Saudi Arabia has promised all the projects will go ahead as planned and the new arena will be “the most unique stadium in the world”. With a total capacity of over 46,000 spectators, the Neom stadium should be completed 2 years ahead of the tournament, in 2032.
“With a pitch situated more than 350 metres above ground, stunning vistas and a roof created from the city itself, the stadium will be an experience like no other. It will leverage the most advanced technology for players, spectators and broadcasters (e-ticket gates, 4K Ultra HD broadcasting, etc.)”, the bid book explains.
The arena will sit at the heart of a new sports focused neighbourhood, adjacent to the Health and Well-Being District and the University. It will be run like the rest of the city is supposed to – entirely on renewable energy generated primarily from wind and solar sources. Respecting the Line’s vision, transport systems to and from the stadium will be fully electric and the location should be reached within 5 minutes from anywhere in the skyscraper city.
Beyond the World Cup, the stadium is planned to be a signature landmark on the Line as the centrepiece of its sporting and active lifestyle program. It is meant to not only be the home of a men’s and women’s professional football club but to also provide a base for the club, fans and community programs, as well as being available to host other major events.
