Saudi Arabia unveiled its aspiration to host the largest-ever edition of the FIFA World Cup held in a single country. This follows the kingdom’s offcial submission of its FIFA World Cup 2034 bid book during a FIFA ceremony in Paris, France.

The bid, under the slogan ‘Growing. Together’, outlines Saudi Arabia’s extensive infrastructure projects and plans, reflecting its ongoing transformation. It also lays out the strategy for successfully hosting one of the world’s most significant sporting events. 

A landmark moment for the country, the bid is also considered a natural progression in the development of Saudi’s football and sports sectors. It also has the potential to boost the economy, enhance the country’s infrastructure, and create thousands of jobs across several sectors including leisure, construction, tourism, and aviation.

The proposed five host cities include Riyadh, Jeddah, Al Khobar, Abha, and NEOM, each featuring advanced stadiums and facilities. Riyadh is set to be the centrepiece with eight arenas, including the new King Salman Stadium, which will seat over 92,000 spectators and host the tournament’s opening and final matches. The city will also feature the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Stadium, a futuristic venue with triple-tiered stands and a striking view of the Tuwaiq cliffs.

Jeddah boasts the Jeddah Central Development Stadium, inspired by the city's rich heritage, and the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium, designed with motifs from the Red Sea’s coral reefs. In Al Khobar, the Aramco Stadium will feature a design echoing the sea and its natural wave patterns. Abha’s King Khalid University Stadium will undergo expansion to increase its capacity for the tournament, ensuring its long-term sustainable legacy. NEOM will host a stadium within THE LINE project, an architectural marvel elevated 350 metres above ground and powered entirely by renewable energy.

Saudi Arabia’s bid also includes extensive infrastructure for training camps and accommodations. A total of 132 training venues across 15 cities are proposed, including 72 stadiums for base camp training sites. The country plans to offer more than 230,000 rooms across the host cities, meeting FIFA's requirements for VIPs, delegations, teams, media, and fans.

The bid outlines 10 proposed FIFA Fan Festival sites, including King Salman Park in Riyadh, Jeddah Waterfront, and the NEOM marina, among others.