FIFA released Saudi Arabia’s ambitious plans for the 2034 World Cup, and it involves building 11 new stadiums, including a 46,000-seat venue inside the country’s planned horizontal skyscraper, The Line.
“We recognize that our hosting of the Competition would bring opportunity and responsibility to uphold human rights throughout this journey and beyond,” the country’s 2034 FIFA bid book states. “We are confident in our ability to deliver a responsible and respectful tournament as proven by our successful track record in hosting international events.”
FIFA has not officially announced Saudi Arabia as the host nation but the country is expected to be confirmed in December, according to Bloomberg, as no other nation submitted a bid to host the global competition.
In total, the plans call for 15 stadiums — four of which are existing venues that would be refurbished — across five proposed host cities: Abha, Al Khobar, Jeddah, Riyadh, and Neom, the country’s desert “eco-city” currently under construction, which will feature The Line skyscrapers.
A spokesperson for the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) did not respond to a request for comment.
Here’s a look at the stadiums:
