Saudi Arabia is poised to be confirmed as host of the 2034 FIFA World Cup at Wednesday’s FIFA Congress.
UPDATED: Saudi Arabia officially confirmed as 2034 FIFA World Cup host nation
The announcement will mark a significant milestone in the Kingdom’s ambitious sporting vision and make it the second Middle Eastern nation to stage football’s showpiece event.
The virtual Congress, scheduled for 1300 GMT, is expected to rubber-stamp the decision after Saudi Arabia emerged as the sole bidder in October, following Australia and Indonesia’s withdrawal from the race.
The country plans to stage the first 48-team World Cup to be held in a single country, proposing matches across 15 stadiums in five host cities: Riyadh, Jeddah, Khobar, Abha, and NEOM, according to the official website for the bid.
The centrepiece of the tournament will be Riyadh’s planned King Salman Stadium, with a 92,000-person capacity, slated to host both opening and final matches.
The ambitious proposal includes the construction or renovation of 11 stadiums and promises 185,000 new hotel rooms, positioning the tournament as a showcase for the Kingdom’s Saudi Vision 2030 economic diversification programme.
Saudi’s sports investment strategy
The World Cup represents the crown jewel in Saudi Arabia’s rapid emergence as a global sporting powerhouse. Through its sovereign wealth fund, the Public Investment Fund (PIF), the Kingdom has made significant investments across multiple sports.
The Saudi Pro League has attracted global football stars including Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Neymar, while the Kingdom has also established a prominent presence in golf, Formula One and boxing.
The Kingdom is also set to host the 2027 Asian Football Cup and the 2029 Asian Winter Games.
FIFA’s Congress will also confirm the 2030 World Cup hosts, with a joint bid from Morocco, Spain and Portugal expected to win approval, alongside celebratory games in Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay.
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