Saudi Arabia to Host the Planet’s Greatest Show at the 2034 World Cup
Once again, Saudi Arabia is set to host a major global event, this time securing the honor of hosting the FIFA World Cup 2034.
The 211 national federations under FIFA unanimously approved the standalone bids of Spain, Portugal, and Morocco for the 2030 World Cup and Saudi Arabia for the 2034 tournament during an assembly where FIFA President Gianni Infantino announced the winners.
Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Sports, Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal, expressed his gratitude in a speech following the announcement, noting that the tournament will involve 48 teams playing across 15 stadiums in five cities: Riyadh, Jeddah, Khobar, Abha, and Neom. “We ensured that our bid was top-notch and adhered to the highest global standards. We invite you to visit our country and witness one of the greatest success stories of the 21st century,” he said.
He added that Saudi Arabia received “support from over 150 countries, either officially declared or through formal letters, out of 211, which indicates that our bid was convincing.”
Riyadh is expected to host eight of the 15 stadiums planned for the tournament, making Saudi Arabia the first country to host a 48-team World Cup solo.
However, at present, the Kingdom only has two of the 15 required stadiums with a minimum capacity of 40,000 spectators, necessary to accommodate the qualifying teams.
Despite this, the Saudi bid received a rating of 4.2 out of 5, higher than the rating for the joint bid by the United States, Canada, and Mexico for the 2026 World Cup.
Saudi Arabia, which has been making remarkable strides on the global sports scene, emerged as the sole contender after Australia and Indonesia withdrew, and China’s football ambitions faded.
Nevertheless, a series of challenges lie ahead to host a flawless tournament. The intense summer heat may necessitate shifting the tournament to the winter or fall, similar to Qatar’s hosting of the 2022 World Cup. Additionally, the holy month of Ramadan, which may coincide with the event, will need to be taken into consideration.
The overall atmosphere in the Gulf nation was celebratory, as Saudis rejoiced with dazzling fireworks lighting up Riyadh’s night sky and drone displays illustrating images of the World Cup trophy. Hundreds gathered in the capital’s center, waving their national flags to celebrate this “historic” achievement.
According to reports from global and regional media outlets, the cold weather did not deter Saudi families from taking to the streets to revel in this momentous occasion.
Mass parades formed images of Saudi Arabia, the world map, the World Cup trophy, and a giant football, with the slogan “Riyadh, Are You Ready?” Fireworks illuminated arcs around the newly opened metro station in the capital, drawing applause and cheers from the crowd.
The glass facade of a towering green-lit skyscraper read, “Welcome to the World 2034,” adding to the joyous atmosphere.
There’s no doubt that hosting this grand footballing event will provide Saudi football fans, known for their passion for the sport, the opportunity to witness the highest level of the game on their home soil. This comes at a time when Saudi clubs have attracted global football stars, bringing unprecedented attention to the Saudi Pro League, now considered one of the world’s top local competitions.
Saudi Arabia is expected to recruit several of these stars as ambassadors for the World Cup, which officials in the Kingdom have promised will be the best ever, with an anticipated record-breaking budget for its organization.
