Host Cities of the FIFA World Cup 2034

The Host Cities of the FIFA World Cup 2034, outlined in the Saudi bid, include five major cities: Riyadh, Jeddah, al-Khobar, and Abha, in addition to NEOM, which represents one of the prominent megaprojects for cities of the future in the Kingdom and the world. These five host cities will house fifteen advanced stadiums, of which eleven are brand new. Riyadh will feature eight stadiums dedicated to hosting the FIFA World Cup matches, including King Salman Stadium, which boasts a capacity of over 92,000 spectators and is set to host the opening and final matches of the tournament.

Riyadh is the capital of the Kingdom, one of its most vibrant and prosperous cities, and the largest in terms of area and population. It is the administrative and financial center of the Kingdom. The city will be the first to host the FIFA World Cup 2034 events. Riyadh Province is home to over 160 football clubs and over 150 accredited football academies. After the tournament, Riyadh and the football sector will benefit from the availability of fifty-four training facilities, including twenty national team training camps, thirty-two training sites linked to the host stadiums, and two referee training camps. The city is also preparing to host the AFC Asian Cup 2027, welcome international delegations for the World Expo 2030, and host the Asian Games 2034.

Riyadh offers a wide variety of tourist destinations and unique events during the FIFA World Cup 2034 finals, namely:

- Riyadh Season.

- Diriyah Season.

- Jax District, a creative hub for art and music enthusiasts.

- Sports Boulevard Project.

- King Abdullah Financial District.

- New Murabba Project.

- Qiddiya Project.

- King Salman Park.

Riyadh is home to a diverse range of distinguished hotels, luxury restaurants, and rich cultural destinations, reinforcing its position as one of visitors' leading cultural and artistic destinations. The number of hotel units in Riyadh is expected to exceed 127,000 by 2034, including 51,000 five-star hotel units, ensuring a wide range of options to suit all tastes and budgets.

King Salman International Airport in Riyadh City can welcome many travelers arriving for the tournament. The airport's capacity is expected to reach one hundred million passengers annually before 2034, with an increase of 170 percent compared to 2023. Riyadh is also enhancing its public transportation network. The Riyadh Metro, consisting of six lines, is the largest network of driverless trains in the world. By 2034, its total capacity will reach 3.6 million passengers, and the Riyadh Metro will be capable of transporting up to fifty thousand passengers per hour. The metro is connected to the airport. It will include a new seventh line to Qiddiya by 2034. Additionally, the Riyadh Metro will significantly expand an integrated public bus network with a daily capacity of nine hundred thousand passengers.

The vast festival arenas in Qiddiya, which can accommodate nearly eighty thousand visitors, will be a distinctive destination for the fans. After finalizing the Qiddiya Project, it will be able to host thirteen music concerts, entertainment events, and festivals annually. Another major venue to host fan festivals will be King Salman Park, which covers sixteen km and is the largest urban park in the world, with a capacity of forty thousand visitors.

- King Salman International Stadium.

- King Fahd Sport City Stadium.

- Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Stadium.

- New Murabba Stadium.

- ROSHN Stadium.

- Prince Faisal Bin Fahd Sport City Stadium.

- South Riyadh Stadium.

- King Saud University Stadium.

Jeddah is the second-largest city in the Kingdom in terms of area, with a population of 3.71 million. It is distinguished by its coastal location along old trade routes and prestigious status as a commercial hub, making it a globally significant city. Football plays a key role in the developed sport scene in Jeddah City, Makkah al-Mukarramah Province, with over seven hundred clubs and seventy accredited training academies across the province.

Jeddah Corniche. (Media Center of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation)

- Historic Jeddah inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

- Jeddah Season Festival of arts, culture, and entertainment.

- Jeddah Central Project—a large-scale residential development with a dedicated area for creativity and the arts.

- City Walk area featuring a mix of interactive experiences, and skill-based movement games, along with restaurants, cafes, and shopping stores.

- Jeddah Waterfront (Corniche).

- Jeddah Corniche Circuit, which hosts top drivers in Formula One.

Jeddah City will offer over forty thousand hotel units by 2034, including more than 15,000 five-star accommodations. The proposed hotels for the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) officials are located close to each other along the Jeddah Corniche, an area of parks and coastal resorts stretching over eighteen km along the Red Sea coast. One hotel overlooks King Fahd's Fountain. These proposed hotels for FIFA delegations are located at prime spots along the corniche waterfront. They feature modern interior designs that mirror the blue of the sea and sandy beaches.

Jeddah City is easily accessible by air, sea, rail, and road trips. Passengers can reach the city by air through King Abdulaziz International Airport, which has multiple passenger terminals. A new terminal is planned to increase the airport’s capacity to ninety million before 2034. Jeddah is also home to one of the fastest trains in the world, reaching speeds of three hundred km/h, linking the city to the airport and surrounding areas, while the high-speed rail network connects Jeddah City to other host cities. Additionally, bus services operate throughout the city for eighteen hours daily.

- Al-Khuzama Park, located near al-Balad, Jeddah, can accommodate around 15,000 fans. This unique destination blends the past and present by offering modern amenities while celebrating Jeddah City's rich heritage.

- Jeddah Waterfront, which is one of the city's most vibrant destinations, has previously hosted the Formula One stc Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. The waterfront also features a park along the coastline, accommodating up to 15,000 fans.

- King Abdullah Sport City Stadium.

- Qiddiya Coast Stadium.

- Jeddah Central Stadium.

- King Abdullah Economic City Stadium.

Al-Khobar is a modern city in the Eastern Province of the Kingdom. It is an essential part of the province's urban center, encompassing Dammam, Dhahran, and al-Qatif. With a population of 409,549, al-Khobar is one of the Kingdom’s key economic centers. It hosts the headquarters of Aramco, the world’s largest energy company. The Eastern Province boasts over 350 football clubs and fifty accredited football academies. After the tournament, the city and its football scene will benefit from twelve training facilities, including eight training camps and four sites linked to the stadium hosting the FIFA World Cup 2034 finals. Al-Khobar City is also preparing to host the AFC Asian Cup in 2027.

Al-Khobar Corniche. (Media Center of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation)

Several attractions, landmarks, and events are available in and near al-Khobar City, including:

- The waterfront, featuring parks and recreational projects.

- The Rig Project, the world’s most extensive entertainment and tourism destination on an offshore platform.

- Development of Darin and Tarot Island Project. The two islands, dating back to five thousand years, are currently being transformed into major tourist destinations.

- King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra), listed by TIME magazine among the world’s top one hundred tourist destinations.

By 2034, al-Khobar is expected to offer more than 17,500 hotel units, meeting FIFA’s standards and ensuring comfortable and suitable accommodation for all. The proposed hotel for VIPs and FIFA delegations will be located in al-Alya Neighborhood, near cultural attractions and major shopping centers in al-Khobar City, and directly connected to al-Rashid Mall.

Travelers to and from al-Khobar City can use King Fahd International Airport, which is set for expansion to keep pace with the exponential growth of the tourism sector in the province. The expansion project will increase the airport's capacity from 12.5 million to twenty million passengers by 2034. One of the Kingdom’s main rail lines connects the city directly to the capital, Riyadh, and is planned to be upgraded to a high-speed line. Al-Khobar plans to develop a high-efficiency, multimodal transportation network that includes a road network stretching over four thousand km, public bus lines extending four hundred km, and a main international airport and three smaller airports. Al-Khobar features a comprehensive bus network to transport passengers to key sites and surrounding areas. Additionally, maritime transportation is available via water taxi services, offering fans a unique travel experience along the shoreline.

- King Abdullah Park, which includes natural spaces and is located on the waterfront near the Heritage Village in Dammam, overlooking Marjan Island. The park can accommodate 26,000 fans.

- King Fahd Park, with a capacity of 23,000 fans, featuring lakes and green spaces. It has previously hosted numerous concerts and public events during the holidays.

Situated on the Arabian Gulf's shores north of al-Khobar City, Aramco Stadium features a dynamic design inspired by marine whirlpools. The stadium is one of the venues designated to host the AFC Asia Cup 2027.

Abha City is the capital of Aseer Province, southwest of the Kingdom, and one of the significant hubs forming a vast urban zone encompassing Khamis Mushayt and Ahad Rufaydah. The city has a population of 1.1 million. It is situated at an elevation of 2,270 m above sea level in the Sarawat Mountains, the highest and longest mountain range in the Kingdom. Aseer Province houses over 140 clubs and fifteen accredited football academies. After the tournament, the city and football scene will benefit from nine training facilities, including five national team camps and four training sites attached to the stadiums designated to host the global event.

Soudah Peaks, Abha. (Media Center of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation)

- Abha Valley Project, stretching over 2.5 million m, featuring hotels and commercial areas.

- Soudah Peaks Project: A mountain destination atop the highest peak in the Kingdom, which is three thousand m above sea level.

- SEVEN Destination: currently under development in Abha to form a large entertainment complex near Abha International Airport, offering integrated entertainment activities for families throughout the year.

By 2034, Abha is expected to offer more than 19,600 hotel units, meeting FIFA’s standards and ensuring comfortable and suitable accommodation. Staying in the city will also allow visitors to explore its rich cultural scene, which includes theater, music performances, and art exhibitions. The proposed hotel for VIPs and FIFA delegations is one of the new projects located west of the city in a mountainous area with breathtaking views, approximately twenty minutes from the airport.

Travel to and from Abha City can be accessed via Abha International Airport, which will undergo significant expansion, including a new 65,000 m passenger terminal. The upgrades will boost the airport’s capacity to ninety thousand flights and ten million passengers annually, with demand expected to reach eight million passengers by 2034. Abha City will benefit significantly from the anticipated growth in tourism activities over the coming years, supported by comprehensive development efforts in the transport sector. These efforts will focus on enhancing public transportation, light transport vehicles, pathways dedicated to pedestrians, and the ease of mobility across the city. Plans also include developing a system of tracks dedicated to rapid buses with high capacities to connect Abha International Airport with King Khalid University Stadium and a network of local bus routes to serve highly-populated areas. These services will ease fans' mobility during the tournament, support tourism sector growth, and improve the daily commute network. Abha City will also introduce dedicated shuttle bus services to transport fans to King Khalid University Stadium, with designated stops in other cities across Aseer Province and the center of Abha City. During the tournament, 80 percent of the city's residents will benefit from the public transportation services, which are stationed within a ten-minute walk.

- Al-Bahar Square: A cultural and historic venue with modern design. This square is located at the center of Abha City and can accommodate up to twenty thousand fans.

- Al-Dhabab Park, located in the southern part of Abha City, is a public park featuring scenic landscapes and views overlooking the mountains in Aseer Province. The park can accommodate 25,000 fans.

King Khalid University Stadium is located southeast of Abha City. The stadium is scheduled to expand its capacity to over 45,000 spectators to host several matches during the FIFA World Cup 2034. The renovation will focus on modernizing the stadium's infrastructure while preserving its historic context.

NEOM City, a product of Saudi Vision 2030, plays a key role in the Kingdom's ambitious plan to reduce the reliance on oil by diversifying the national economy. Located in the northwestern region of the Kingdom along the Red Sea coast, NEOM City is undergoing continuous infrastructure development and creating fifteen sectors, embodying one of the most innovative development projects globally. NEOM's residents and the global football scene will benefit from an international stadium and four facilities that will be utilized as training facilities during the FIFA World Cup 2034.

The Line, NEOM. (Media Center of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation)

- The Line City: An innovative linear city stretching across diverse terrains and climate conditions, including sandy planes, mountains, and plateaus. The Line City is situated five hundred m above sea level. It will run entirely on renewable energy sources, emphasizing urban lifestyle enhancement and sustainability. The first zone in The Line is scheduled to host all the FIFA World Cup 2034 activities. After the tournament, the city's population and the global football community will benefit from four training facilities that will be used as attached training facilities in the host stadiums during the tournament.

NEOM City is planned to house over 24,000 hotel units by 2034, providing a diverse range of accommodation options to suit different needs and requirements. NEOM will feature two proposed hotels designated for FIFA VIPs and delegations. These hotels are part of the seven luxury hotels planned to be constructed within The Line City. Both hotels will offer seamless access to world-class cultural and shopping experiences.

NEOM International Airport is the primary gateway for passengers from and to the city. The airport, planned to be constructed in the eastern part of the new city, is expected to accommodate twelve million local and international passengers annually by 2034. Once visitors exit the airport, they can reach The Line City in less than thirty minutes using high-speed trains or electric vehicles. A comprehensive bus network will connect all parts of the city, and by 2034, additional routes heading to NEOM from other host cities will be available.

NEOM's transport strategy focuses on establishing the world's first fully linked and sustainable transport system. Within The Line City, public and private transportation services will be provided via an automated rapid transit (ART) network, similar to trams, and personal rapid transit (PRT) vehicles operating across five key horizontal routes. These routes will be set at thirty, 150, 250, 350, and 450 m above sea level, ensuring high-speed and efficient transportation. This network will provide convenient transportation between key areas, including the stadium and fan festival sites. NEOM City aims to develop an energy system relying 100 percent on renewable energy. Sustainable transport options in The Line will offer visitors a pioneering example of how future cities can leverage renewable energy to operate sustainably.

- The marina is the distinctive maritime gateway to The Line City, located near key landmarks such as the Chandelier and the Cruise Terminal. It will offer spaces capable of accommodating forty thousand fans.

- The Marina Steps amphitheater, expected to accommodate forty thousand spectators, is located near transportation routes to NEOM International Airport and accommodation sites. It also offers guests stunning views of the Chandelier.

NEOM Stadium is distinguished by its elevation above ground of more than 350 m. Its roof extends as part of the city's skyline, offering an exceptional football match experience and embodying one of the world's prominent landmarks. After the tournament, NEOM Stadium will become the main stadium for one of the professional football clubs and a center for sports activities and lifestyle programs in the city.