2034 FIFA World Cup: A Close Look at Saudi's Bid for the Largest-Ever Single-Country Tournament
The Saudi FIFA World Cup 2034 is set to be the largest edition to ever take place in a single country.
Under the title "Growing Together," Saudi Arabia’s FIFA World Cup bid book outlines the details of the largest sports construction and stadium building projects in the world. A significant number of these stadiums will have a capacity of over 40,000 seats, in line with FIFA requirements.
In Riyadh, the King Salman Stadium, which will host the opening and final matches of the FIFA World Cup, is designed to accommodate 92,000 seats, nearly double the typical World Cup stadium capacity.
This builds on a track record of investments in the sports sector, which is part of the country’s overarching economic transformation strategy. In line with Vision 2030, this plan is supported by a government commitment of over SR1 trillion ($266 billion) for the next decade and the upcoming global tournament.
The official bid unveiled last week during a FIFA ceremony in Paris sets the tone for a new era of industrial expansion and transformation. This perfectly goes in sync with the nation’s long-standing passion for football and its ambition to become a global economic powerhouse.
Depicting the nation's sentiment towards hosting the FIFA World Cup 2034 edition, Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal, the minister of sport and president of the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee, said: “Together, we are working toward materializing Saudi Arabia’s dream of hosting the FIFA World Cup into a tangible reality, as outlined within our official bid book.”
The Sports Construction Boom is Well Underway as the FIFA World Cup Approaches
In anticipation of the world's most-watched sports event, Saudi Arabia will oversee the biggest sports construction wave on record, which will deliver long-term benefits to urban development and infrastructure.The Saudi bid book highlights that 15 stadiums will be situated across five host cities, including NEOM, Riyadh, Jeddah, Alkhobar, and Abha.
Each city is a nucleus of growth and innovation and provides its own growth opportunities, attracting global sports investors and companies. Together, these cities weave the threads of the fabric of a vibrant, diverse society and a globally competitive Saudi sports economy.
Riyadh, the capital city, will be home to eight stadiums. Besides the King Salman International Stadium, it is set to host the King Fahd Sports City Stadium, which is planned to accommodate 70,000 spectators. Jeddah will host the second-largest share of stadiums, amounting to four.
Below is a comprehensive overview of the stadiums and their details, as outlined in the Saudi bid book
- King Salman International Stadium, Riyadh | Gross FWC34 capacity: 92,760 | Status: Planned | Completion date: 2029
- King Fahad Sports City Stadium, Riyadh | Gross FWC34 capacity: 70,200 | Status: Existing—refurbishment | Completion date: 2026
- Prince Mohammed bin Salman Stadium, Riyadh | Gross FWC34 capacity: 46,97 | Status: Planned | Completion date: 2029
- New Murabba Stadium, Riyadh | Gross FWC34 capacity: 46,010 | Status: Planned | Completion date: 2032
- Roshn Stadium, Riyadh | Gross FWC34 capacity: 46,000 | Status: Planned | Completion date: 2032
- Prince Faisal bin Fahad Sports City Stadium, Riyadh | Gross FWC34 capacity: 46,865 | Status: Under construction | Completion date: 2027
- South Riyadh Stadium, Riyadh | Gross FWC34 capacity: 47,060 | Status: Planned | Completion date: 2032
- King Saud University Stadium, Riyadh | Gross FWC34 capacity: 46,319 | Status: Existing—refurbishment | Completion date: 2032
- King Abdullah Sports City Stadium, Jeddah | Gross FWC34 capacity: 58,432 |Status: Existing—refurbishment | Completion date: 2032
- Qiddiya Coast Stadium, Jeddah | Gross FWC34 capacity: 46,096 | Status: Planned | Completion date: 2032
- Jeddah Central Development Stadium, Jeddah | Gross FWC34 capacity: 45,794 | Status: Under construction | Completion date: 2027
- King Abdullah Economic City Stadium, Jeddah | Gross FWC34 capacity: 45,700 | Status: Planned | Completion date: 2032
- Aramco Stadium, Alkhobar | Gross FWC34 capacity: 46,096 | Status: Under construction | Completion date: 2026
- King Khalid University Stadium, Abha | Gross FWC34 capacity: 45,428 | Status: Existing—refurbishment | Completion date: 2032
- NEOM Stadium, NEOM | Gross FWC34 capacity: 46,010 | Status: Planned | Completion date: 2032
Apart from stadiums, as many as 132 training venues will be stationed across 15 cities in the Kingdom. Of these, 72 are dedicated to being base camp training sites.
The FIFA World Cup 2034 will be the largest single-country edition in the history of the global tournament. The Saudi edition serves as a major draw for international construction firms seeking lasting growth and competitive moats in the Saudi market, set to be the world’s largest construction site by 2028.
With infrastructure development remaining in full swing, companies like Grankraft have increasingly been ramping up their presence in the Saudi construction sector. Looking ahead, the Saudi construction market is expected to reach $181.5 billion by the end of 2028, up 30% from 2023 levels.
Part of AstroLabs’ expansion network, Gankraft is working on the Red Sea island to build key stainless steel materials for the hyper-luxury resort, Sheybarah Hotel. The ripple effect is not only confined to sports construction but also extends to residential and hotel development.
As part of the Saudi FIFA World Cup bid, a total of 230,000 rooms are expected to be available across the five host cities to accommodate VIPs, FIFA delegations, teams, media personnel, and fans.
This translates to a growing need for residential real estate development projects ahead of the tournament to address the dynamic demands of the ever-evolving urban landscape.
The FIFA World Cup Accelerates Growth in Tourism and Business Expansion
The large-scale infrastructure projects happening on the ground across various construction and hospitality domains underscore the country's capabilities to host a tournament on such a global scale. This compelling narrative will showcase the potential of the country as an ideal place to do business for international companies.
The anticipated impact is to accelerate Vision 2030’s plan to expand the non-oil economy by attracting more private investments. By 2030, the country looks to have 65% of its GDP from the private sector.
These goals vastly intersect with Saudi Arabia’s growing ambitions to be one of the top tourism destinations globally and attract 150 million visitors by 2030.
The growing allure of the country’s entertainment industry is reflected in the official bid, which outlines 10 proposed FIFA Fan Festival sites spread across the five host cities.
Among these are megaprojects such as King Salman Park in Riyadh, slated to become the world’s largest urban park, the Jeddah Waterfront on the Red Sea, the Al Bihar Square in Abha, the marina within The Line project in NEOM and Alkhobar’s King Abdullah Park.
The Kingdom’s strategic position as a global tourism and business hub has consistently drawn global firms, a venture that has been in motion well before the World Cup's bid release this week.
For instance, REZLive, an Indian online booking agency, has recently expanded its services to Saudi Arabia with AstroLabs. With opportunities visible in the tourism sector, companies like REZLive look to take advantage of sustained periods of growth, set to be further fueled by the FIFA World Cup.
With the World Cup approaching, the economic landscape of Saudi Arabia remains at a pivotal moment, and companies that can embrace rapid market changes will be well-positioned to thrive in the coming years.
Flagship giga projects like the NEOM megacity, Diriyah Gate, the Red Sea Projects, downtown projects, and the Qiddiya are grand initiatives propelling Saudi Arabia towards a modern, diversified economy ready to host an event of the caliber of a FIFA World Cup.
The upcoming FIFA World Cup will serve as a display of the country's decades-long efforts to modernize its economy, as set out in Vision 2030.
With a vibrant culture, rich history, and stunning natural beauty, Saudi Arabia will captivate millions of spectators and visitors while asserting its continued rise to global prominence.
