The Jeddah Central Development Stadium will be inspired by its city’s historic Al Balad district Credit: Dezeen
The Jeddah Central Development Stadium will be inspired by its city’s historic Al Balad district Credit: Dezeen
By Samuel Lowen of the Telegraph
Fifa has confirmed that Saudi Arabia will be awarded the 2034 World Cup.
The Gulf state emerged as the only bidder and has already started building ambitious stadiums for the event.
There will be 15 venues in total – 11 ofwhich will be brand new – with eight in the capital Riyadh, four in Jeddah and one each in Al Khobar, Abha and the brand-new desert city of Neom.
The futuristic designs released by the Saudis are eye-catching to say the least, with some bordering on absurd in terms of ambition and scale.
This is the crown jewel of the Saudi World Cup project, and it is no surprise the King Salman stadium will host the World Cup final.
The largest stadium for the tournament has a compact seating-bowl design executed by renowned stadium designers Populous, which also designed the Tottenham Hotspur stadium, among others.
Populous wants the arena to blend in seamlessly with the mountainous environment. “The stadium will blend into its surrounding topography, with the terrain and natural habitat forming part of the stadium’s roof,” Populous explained.
“Aside from its aesthetic appeal, this design will provide effective shading and ventilation tailored to the desert climate.”
Madness rating: 8/10
The King Salman Stadium will be Saudi’s largest stadium and is due to host the World Cup final. Photo / Dezeen
King Fahd Sports City Stadium
Capacity:70,200
Based in the east of Riyadh, the refurbishment of the King Fahd Sports City Stadium is under way to be ready for the 2027 Asian Cup.
The stadium originally opened in 1987 with a capacity of 58,000, which will expand for the World Cup.
The complex has a distinctive fabric roof supported on a series of 24 masts, each 58 metres high.
The King Fahd Sports City Stadium is inspired by traditional tents and is notable for its fabric roof. Photo / Dezeen
Prince Mohammed bin Salman Stadium
Capacity:46,979
The Prince Mohammed bin Salman Stadium, named after the crown prince, will be 200 metres above ground and, remarkably, perched above a cliff as part of a futuristic design.
The complex will have stands on three sides, with a large retractable LED wall occupying the other side.
Madness rating: 8/10
The Prince Mohammed bin Salman Stadium will be built into a cliffside. Photo / Dezeen
New Murabba Stadium
Capacity: 46,010
Unusually created using the bark of an Acacia tree, the New Murabba Stadium will be surrounded by rock-like forms and divided by towering canyons.
The 45,000-seat stadium will form part of the larger Murabba downtown development, which is being created in the northwest of Riyadh.
Madness rating: 8/10
he New Murabba Stadium will host games throughout the group stage and the round of 16.
Roshn Stadium
Capacity:46,000
The Roshn Stadium is one of the ambitious projects that is still in the concept phase with the Public Investment Fund currently looking for contractors to build the stadium.
The design resembles numerous crystal shard-like pieces rising into the air, which will also glow at night.
The stadium will be built to the south of Riyadh as part of a wider residential neighbourhood.
The King Abdullah Sports City Stadium has already hosted sporting events such as the 2023 Fifa Club World Cup final and the boxing match between Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usuk.
Qiddiya Coast Stadium
Capacity: 46,096
One of the most colourful stadiums being built for the World Cup, the Qiddiya Coast Stadium is supposedly inspired by the “dynamic relationship between people and water, energy, and matter” and meant to evoke “the ripple effect of a Mexican wave”.
The stadium will be 45km north of Jeddah.
Madness rating: 7/10
The Qiddiya Coast Stadium will host games in the group stage, as well as the rounds of 32 and 16.
What will make this stadium unique is the fact it will be surrounded by buildings that have the appearance of historic structures, combining the “old’”with the new.
“It echoes the traditional architecture of Jeddah’s historic Al-Balad district while embracing technological advancements and innovative building design,” said the bid committee.
Madness rating: 7/10
The Jeddah Central Development Stadium will be inspired by its city’s historic Al Balad district.
King Abdullah Economic City Stadium
Capacity: 45,700
The King Abdullah Economic City Stadium will be built in the shape of a drum and is a central part of the new city of Red Sea Coast.
The King Abdullah Economic City Stadium will host more than 45,000 fans once completed in 2032.
Al Khobar
Aramco Stadium
Capacity: 46,096
One of the stadiums already under construction, the Aramco Stadium is set to be completed by 2026 and used for the 2027 Asian Cup.
The design of the stadium will aim to encompass “the whirlpools of the coast of Saudi Arabia” with the stadium covered with sail-like forms.
“Its whirlpool-shaped design mimics overlapping sails and draws on graceful, natural wave motifs to blend seamlessly with the coastal landscape,” the official bid said.
Madness rating: 7/10
The Aramco Stadium’s design ‘celebrates the sea’s dynamic nature’, according to the official bid document.
Situated in the southwest city of Abha, the King Khalid University Stadium is one of the existing stadiums under refurbishment.
The stadium opened in 1987, with a current capacity of 12,000, which will increase drastically for the World Cup.
The renovation will also include a new west stand, enhanced technological systems across the stadium and additional amenities to manage the increased foot traffic.
Madness rating: 6/10
The King Khalid University Stadium is one of two that will be expanded for the World Cup.
Neom
Neom Stadium
Capacity: 46,010
This Neom project is one of the most intriguing and bizarre stadiums of the 2034 World Cup, with the project being part of the wider new “megacity” currently under construction.
Built above a working marina, it has been claimed by the Saudis that it will be “the most unique stadium in the world”.
“With a pitch situated more than 350 metres above ground, stunning vistas, and a roof created from the city itself, the stadium will be an experience like no other,” the bid said.
Madness rating: 9/10
The Neom Stadium will run on renewable energy from wind and solar sources.
