Saudi Arabia, which won the bid to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup, will be organizing the tournament across 15 stadiums.
Of these 15 stadiums, eight are planned new-builds, including the King Salman International Stadium, which is proposed as the venue for the opening match and final.
Another three stadiums are currently under construction and will host the AFC Asian Cup in 2027. Of the four existing stadiums presented, the country’s two largest current stadiums (King Fahad Sports City Stadium and King Abdullah Sports City Stadium) will undergo a number of upgrades while two stadiums situated on university campuses (King Khalid University Stadium and King Saud University Stadium) will be refurbished and undergo temporary capacity expansions.
Read: Saudi Arabia vows to deliver “a tournament of a lifetime”
Unique locations
The tournament plan includes some ambitious stadium projects integrated into unique locations, including the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Stadium, located within the Qiddiya development, and NEOM Stadium, located within THE LINE development.
Moreover, there are stadiums such as New Murabba Stadium and ROSHN Stadium, whose extended roof structures and footprints blend into the surrounding neighbourhoods.
“Whilst these ‘one-of-a-kind’ stadium projects have tremendous potential and will undoubtedly change the way future stadium designs and structures are approached, the proposed configuration and location of the FIFA World Cup spaces in these stadiums is certainly unprecedented and would likely require a reimagining of operations, with some associated unknowns or challenges at this moment in time,” FIFA said.
The stadiums
Here’s a brief profile of the stadiums where the matches are proposed to be held.
King Salman International Stadium, Riyadh
Highest proposed match category: Opening match/final
Gross capacity: 92,760
Current pitch type: Hybrid
Status: Planned
King Salman International Stadium is a new stadium to be built in the north-east of Riyadh, close to the airport. Construction is due to commence in 2025 and will be completed by 2030. The new stadium will serve as the national stadium of Saudi Arabia and will be used by the Saudi Arabia national team. The design meets the requirements and, when completed, it promises to be a flagship stadium with state-of-the-art facilities.
Prince Mohammed bin Salman Stadium, Riyadh
Highest proposed match category: Match for third place
Gross capacity: 46,979
Current pitch type: Hybrid
Status: Planned
Prince Mohammed bin Salman Stadium is a new state-of-the-art stadium to be built to the south-west of Riyadh. The unique three-sided design will be integrated into a cliff-side location and serve as an entertainment showpiece hub for the Qiddiya development. Construction is due to commence in 2026 and will be completed by 2029.
King Fahad Sports City Stadium, Riyadh
Highest proposed match category: Semi-final
Gross capacity: 70,200
Current pitch type: Hybrid
Status: Existing, refurbishment
King Fahad Sports City Stadium is the current home of the Saudi Arabia national team. It is being refurbished ahead of hosting the AFC Asian Cup 2027. The refurbishment will increase the capacity to 70,200, which exceeds the minimum requirement of 60,000 seats for a semi-final venue, as well as remove the athletics track and provide enhanced hospitality facilities.
King Abdullah Sports City Stadium, Jeddah
Highest proposed match category: Quarter-final
Gross capacity: 58,432
Current pitch type: Hybrid
Status: Existing, refurbishment
King Abdullah Sports City Stadium was built in 2014 and is currently home to two well-supported Saudi Pro League teams – Al Ahli and Al Ittihad. The stadium also successfully hosted the FIFA Club World Cup 2023, and will be used to host the AFC Asian Cup 2027 and undergo refurbishment from 2030.
NEOM Stadium, NEOM
Highest proposed match category: Quarter-final
Gross capacity: 46,010
Current pitch type: Hybrid
Status: Planned
NEOM Stadium is a new state-of-the-art stadium to be built in a sports-focused district within the first phase of THE LINE, a futuristic development stretching from the Red Sea and based on renewable energy and sustainable transport. The new stadium, which will be a focal point of the overall development, will be located on the upper level. Construction is due to commence in 2027 and will be completed by 2032.
King Khalid University Stadium, Abha
Highest proposed match category: Round of 16
Gross capacity: 45,428
Current pitch type: Hybrid
Status: Existing, refurbishment
King Khalid University Stadium is an existing multi-purpose stadium on the university campus that will undergo refurbishment commencing in 2030 to temporarily expand its capacity and provide enhanced hospitality facilities. The temporary capacity expansion will be achieved via a temporary seating structure on top of the existing bowl structure and athletics track, providing a capacity of approximately 38,000. This will allow the stadium to keep its main bowl structure and athletic track for legacy use.
Aramco Stadium, Al Khobar
Highest proposed match category: Round of 16
Gross capacity: 46,096
Current pitch type: Hybrid
Status: Under construction
Aramco Stadium is currently being built as part of a sports and leisure development and will host matches in the AFC Asian Cup 2027.
Qiddiya Coast Stadium, Jeddah
Highest proposed match category: Round of 16
Gross capacity: 46,096
Current pitch type: Hybrid
Status: Planned
Qiddiya Coast Stadium will be a new state-of-the-art stadium located to the north of Jeddah on the Red Sea coast. Construction is due to commence in 2029 and will be completed by 2032. After the FIFA World Cup 2034, the capacity of the stadium would be reduced and the retractable pitch used to facilitate a multi-purpose entertainment venue at the heart of the Qiddiya Coast development.
Jeddah Central Development Stadium, Jeddah
Highest proposed match category: Round of 32
Gross capacity: 45,794
Current pitch type: Hybrid
Status: Under construction
Jeddah Central Development Stadium is currently being built as part of a sports park district within the wider Jeddah Central Development in south-west Jeddah.
King Abdullah Economic City Stadium, Jeddah
Highest proposed match category: Round of 32
Gross capacity: 45,700
Current pitch type: Hybrid
Status: Planned
King Abdullah Economic City Stadium will be a new state-of-the-art stadium located to the north of Jeddah on the Red Sea coast. Construction is due to commence in 2027 and will be completed by 2032.
King Saud University Stadium, Riyadh
Highest proposed match category: Round of 32
Gross capacity: 46,319
Current pitch type: Hybrid
Status: Existing, refurbishment
King Saud University Stadium is the current home of the Al Nassr club and will be used to host the AFC Asian Cup 2027. A refurbishment will then commence in 2029 to temporarily increase the capacity and provide enhanced hospitality facilities.
New Murabba Stadium, Riyadh
Highest proposed match category: Round of 32
Gross capacity: 46,010
Current pitch type: Hybrid
Status: Planned
New Murabba Stadium will be a new state-of-the-art stadium to be built in the north-west of Riyadh. The planned stadium features a roof structure design based on the native acacia tree bark and integrates with spaces in the surrounding neighborhood. Construction is due to commence in 2025 and will be completed by 2029.
Prince Faisal bin Fahad Sports City Stadium, Riyadh
Highest proposed match category: Round of 32
Gross capacity: 46,865
Current pitch type: Hybrid
Status: Under construction
Prince Faisal bin Fahad Sports City Stadium is currently being built as part of a wider sports and leisure masterplan and will host matches in the AFC Asian Cup 2027.
ROSHN Stadium, Riyadh
Highest proposed match category: Round of 32
Gross capacity: 46,000
Current pitch type: Hybrid
Status: Planned
ROSHN Stadium will be a new state-of-the-art stadium to be built in the south-west of Riyadh. The planned stadium features a crystalline structure designed to integrate with spaces in the surrounding neighborhood. Construction is due to commence in 2028 and will be completed by 2032.
South Riyadh Stadium, Riyadh
Highest proposed match category: Round of 32
Gross capacity: 47,060
Current pitch type: Hybrid
Status: Planned
South Riyadh Stadium will be a new stadium to be built in the south-west of Riyadh. The planned stadium will connect with the Wadi Namar park and form part of the Green Riyadh project. Construction is due to commence in 2029 and will be completed by 2032.
