The news comes with under two weeks remaining until the official awarding of the FIFA World Cup™ hosts for 2030 and 2034, set to take place at the extraordinary FIFA congress in December 2024 on the 11th.
It followed an inspection visit by FIFA in October to present the details of Saudi Arabia’s bid, during which they visited proposed host cities, stadiums and facilities throughout the tournament footprint as part of the bidding process.
The Kingdom’s support for Saudi Arabia’s FIFA World Cup 2034™ bid is clear from the very top level of leadership. It bears the support of His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and is in line with the ambitious goals of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, to achieve the aspirations and aspirations of the Saudi people.
HRH Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki bin Faisal, Minister of Sport and President of the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee, commented: “I would like to extend my deepest thanks to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and HRH the Crown Prince for their support and empowerment, which have contributed significantly to achieving this remarkable result. Saudi Arabia has a young football-loving population. Young people are looking to a bright future.”
“FIFA’s score here is just a testament to our commitment to grow the game, to our rapid transformation and our desire to run the best tournament the world will ever have.” It represents the culmination of our tireless work to put forward a world-class bid and is testament to the partnership of organisations right across the Kingdom all sharing the Vision 2030 imperative to help sectors come together to back a bid which reflects the vision of the Kingdom’s leadership and the desires of the Saudi people. He added.
Saudi Arabia formally entered its bid in July, using the slogan “Growing. Together” and announcing its plans in delivering the world’s first ever 48-team FIFA World Cup™ under the host nation.
In addition to 10 other host venues across the Kingdom, the bid will see the matches staged at 15 stadiums in five host cities — Riyadh, Jeddah, Khobar, Abha, and NEOM.
The Saudi Arabian Football Federation President Yasser Al-Misehal said in a statement: “This outstanding score is the outcome of the leadership’s support and the guidance of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, whose vision has driven the phenomenal growth in the sports sector witnessed by Saudi Arabia.”
He said:”Through this bid, we are determined to provide a unique experience for players, officials and football fans around the world.” “Football is the source of Saudi culture, and we are delighted to be able to showcase the Kingdom’s rich heritage and the hospitality of Saudi people by offering an unforgettable experience in this competition.”
Hammad Albalawi, Head of the Saudi Arabia FIFA World Cup™ 2034 bid unit said: “We are immensely proud of this unprecedented score. It underlines the nation’s work together to provide the top technical capabilities during this bid. We wanted to demonstrate how much there is to be gained for the global game by the remarkable progress we’ve already made in football and how committed we are to provide an exceptional experience for the world’s biggest sporting event.”
“Our program features five host cities with rich cultures and beautiful landscapes, providing unique experiences for fans to visit various regions of Saudi Arabia,” he added. “Moreover, the 10 other host locations will complement the team and fan experience with state-of-the-art training facilities and sports infrastructure, coupled with world-class connectivity between the host locations.”
The opportunity to host FIFA World Cup 2034™ is a vital catalyst to present the much-advanced efforts that the Kingdom has undertaken and continues to achieve as part of the Vision 2030 launched under the leadership of his Royal Highness the Crown Prince.
Today, this vision has helped the Kingdom to establish itself as a leading destination for global sport, hosting over 100 major sporting events in more than 12 internationally recognized sports, including the FIFA Club World Cup™ and Formula 1™ Grand Prix.
The Saudi Arabia FIFA World Cup™ 2034 bid aims to drive the alignment of the Vision 2030 objectives for a vibrant society, sporting talent, economic and community impact, and improved quality of life for both Saudis and visitors alike.
Moreover, the bid will maintain its ongoing cooperation with the Saudi Green Initiative to ensure a sustainable and high-calibre edition of the tournament.