Saudi Arabia Gives First Look at Planned 2034 World Cup Soccer Stadium

Saudi Arabia unveiled plans on Tuesday for the King Salman International Stadium, a 92,000-seat venue designed to host the opening and final matches of the 2034 FIFA World Cup. Located in northern Riyadh, the stadium will be the largest in the country and is scheduled for completion in 2029.

The design, inspired by Saudi Arabia’s natural landscape, is intended to symbolize growth and development. Each venue is envisioned as a “seed” germinating within the region’s environment. Global architecture firm Populous is leading the project.

“The design philosophy reflects a commitment to cutting-edge infrastructure while paying tribute to the intrinsic connection between sustainable development, human activity, and the natural world,” said Shireen Hamdan, general manager of Populous KSA.

The stadium will include a Royal Box, 2,500 VIP seats, hospitality skyboxes, and rooftop gardens offering panoramic views of King Abdulaziz Park. A compact seating bowl will enhance the spectator experience while meeting international standards for pitch sports. The venue will also host nonsporting events.

Beyond the stadium, the master plan includes training fields, fan zones, an aquatics center with an Olympic-sized swimming pool, and an athletics stadium. A community sports park equipped with facilities for basketball, volleyball, and padel aims to encourage grassroots participation. A 9-kilometer (5.6-mile) sports track linking to King Abdulaziz Park will connect these amenities.

“The stadium will integrate seamlessly with the wider master plan, blending architecture with landscape to create a new sporting hub for Riyadh,” said Mark Craine, senior principal at Populous and lead architect for the project.

Populous has designed other venues in Saudi Arabia, including the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Stadium, King Fahad International Stadium, and the Aramco Stadium.

The World Cup bid is part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, spearheaded by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The King Salman International Stadium is one of the nation’s most ambitious projects as it prepares to host a series of major international events in the coming years.

While FIFA’s confirmation is pending, Saudi Arabia is the sole candidate to host the 2034 World Cup. A final decision is expected on December 11 at a meeting of FIFA’s 211 member federations. If awarded the tournament, Saudi Arabia plans to host matches across 15 stadiums in five cities: Riyadh, Jeddah, Al Khobar, Abha and Neom.

Eight venues, including the King Salman International Stadium, will be in Riyadh, the nation’s capital.

Saudi Arabia has been accused of engaging in “sportswashing,” a strategy defined as investing heavily in sports and entertainment to reshape its international reputation despite persistent concerns about its human rights record. By spending billions to attract fans, talent, and major events, Riyadh hopes to soften criticism, similar to Qatar’s image boost after the 2022 FIFA World Cup.