Saudi Arabia 2034 FIFA World Cup bid
Saudi Arabia is bidding to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup on its own. After dropping a joint bid for 2030 with Greece and Egypt, Saudi Arabia switched to a solo bid. The bid was announced on 4 October 2023, with AFC President Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa backing it on 5 October and the official letter of intent and declaration submitted to FIFA on 9 October. More than 70 member associations had pledged support.
FIFA Congress ratified the bid on 11 December 2024. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman announced the bid, and Asian football leaders soon backed it. With Australia not bidding, Saudi Arabia became the sole bidder. It would be the first country to host the World Cup alone in the 48-team format introduced in 2026. FIFA’s evaluation released on 30 November 2024 gave Saudi Arabia an average score of 4.2 out of 5—the highest ever.
The official list of proposed stadiums was confirmed on 31 July 2024. The tournament would be held in five cities—Riyadh, Jeddah, Al Khobar, NEOM and Abha—with a total of 15 stadiums (11 new). The King Salman International Stadium in Riyadh could host the opening game and the final.
To address heat, organizers may use strategies similar to Qatar 2022, though the plan also includes a summer hosting option.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 15:58 (CET).