The FIFA Congress, where the 2034 World Cup bid will be voted on, is scheduled for next month.
Saudi Arabia’s 2034 World Cup bid earns high rating from FIFA. Saudi Arabia‘s bid to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup has received an impressive technical score of 4.2 out of 5 from FIFA, surpassing the 2026 bid by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, which scored 4.0. Despite several of the proposed stadiums still under construction, Saudi Arabia’s bid has been praised for its ambitious plans and infrastructure projects, including iconic venues like the King Salman International Stadium in Riyadh, which is set to seat nearly 93,000 spectators.
FIFA’s evaluation report highlighted that while the proposed venues — including major stadiums in Riyadh, Qiddiya, and NEOM — are not expected to be completed until 2032, three new stadiums will be ready by 2027 for the Asian Cup. The bid is also noted for its innovative stadium designs, integrated into unique locations such as the futuristic NEOM development and the Qiddiya sports city.
However, FIFA also flagged potential risks due to the large-scale nature of the stadium projects and the novel configurations planned for some venues. While the risk was categorized as medium, the report emphasized that Saudi Arabia has sufficient time and resources to manage these challenges, with a strong project team in place.
The Saudi bid’s emphasis on transformative urban projects, including NEOM — a massive city development planned to span 170 kilometers — is central to the country’s Vision 2030 economic diversification plan. However, rising costs have led to some scaling back of these ambitious plans, particularly the “The Line” city project. FIFA has stressed the importance of closely monitoring these developments if Saudi Arabia wins the bid.
Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Sports, expressed confidence that the country’s World Cup bid reflects its commitment to the growth of football and its rapid development. He emphasized the extensive collaboration behind the bid, noting that it is a testament to the country’s transformation.
The FIFA Congress, where the 2034 World Cup bid will be voted on, is scheduled for next month. Saudi Arabia is the sole contender for 2034, while a combined bid from Morocco, Spain, and Portugal is the only bid for the 2030 tournament. Both the 2030 and 2034 bids received a score of 4.2 in FIFA’s evaluations.
