Qytetet pritëse shpallen për Kupën e Botës FIFA 2034

The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) has announced the five proposed host cities for the 2034 FIFA World Cup. This is in line with Saudi Arabia’s bid book, which they submitted in a ceremony in Paris.

According to the bid book, Saudi Arabia is proposing five host cities for the FIFA World Cup 2034. These include the cities of Abha, Al Khobar, Jeddah, NEOM, and Riyadh.

Meet the FIFA World Cup 2034 host cities

These five host cities will have a total of 15 stadiums, 11 of which are new stadiums. Riyadh, for instance, will provide eight stadiums. This includes the King Salman Stadium, which will be able to accommodate more than 92,000 spectators. This stadium will be hosting the opening and final matches. It will open in 2029.

Also in Riyadh is the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Stadium. It will feature a futuristic design, as well as triple-tiered stands and a view of the Tuwaiq cliffs.

Another venue in Riyadh, one of the host cities, is the King Fahad Sports City Stadium. This stadium can accommodate more than 70,000 fans. Authorities have conducted an extensive renovation to prepare it for the 2027 Asian Cup and the 2034 FIFA World Cup. The renovation will create additional seating capacity, more green spaces, cycling lanes, a museum, a store, and sports facilities.

Moving to Jeddah, another of the host cities, Saudi Arabia is preparing the Jeddah Central Development Stadium. This stadium will have a heritage-inspired design. The King Abdullah Sports City Stadium, meanwhile, will feature a coral reef-design, taking inspiration from the ocean.

In Abha, on the other hand, authorities will temporarily expand the King Khalid University Stadium to accommodate over 45,000 spectators. The NEOM Stadium, in comparison, will operate on pure renewable energy.

It’s important to note that NEOM is one of Saudi Arabia’s giga-projects. It is a 26,500 square kilometer “city of the future” that will have cities, airports, entertainment venues, tourist destinations, and more.

Fan festival sites, training camps, and more

On top of the aforementioned, the five host cities will provide more than 230,000 rooms, which meet FIFA’s standards. Additionally, there will also be 132 training sites spread out in 15 cities. Each host city will also have a dedicated fan festival site. These will be at the Al Bihar Square, Jeddah Waterfront, King Abdullah Park, King Salman Park, and at NEOM’s marina.

Minister of Sport and President of the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki bin Faisal remarked, “Together, we are working towards making Saudi Arabia’s dream of hosting the FIFA World Cup a reality, as outlined in our official bid book.”

“These plans will combine our rich football heritage with our deep passion for the game and will ensure Saudi Arabia’s success as the first nation to host a 48-team tournament in one country,” he continued.

Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) President Yasser Al-Misehal noted the significance of the bid book’s submission. He emphasized that hosting the FIFA World Cup 2034 symbolizes an important time for the kingdom as it develops its sports sector. More importantly, it will also inspire future generations.

Photo: X/Saudi Arabia FIF