Saudi Arabia's World Cup Mirage?

Saudi Arabia's audacious 2034 World Cup bid, featuring a floating stadium and a city built from scratch, raises eyebrows & questions of feasibility amidst concerns of extravagance & impracticality.

Aug 02, 2024

An impression of the proposed Neom Stadium to be built for the 2034 Saudi Arabia World Cup — Artist’s impression of the proposed Neom Stadium

So, Saudi Arabia wants to host the 2034 World Cup. And they're not just building a couple of new stadiums and revamping a few others. They're planning on building a 200m (as in 656ft; bigger than the Empire State Building) by 106 mile long car-free city with one stadium ‘floating’ a dizzying 350 meters in the air, accessible only by high-speed elevators and driverless cars.

Because who needs boring ground-level stadiums, right?

This futuristic car-free metropolis will be a similar distance from Cleveland to Columbus or Bristol to London and boast a stadium that runs entirely on renewable energy.

Of course, this outlandish vision comes with a hefty price tag. While a definitive cost hasn’t been officially touted, it’s not unreasonable to think hundreds of billions of dollars. Purpose-built, soccer cities in the middle of the desert with floating stadiums don’t come cheap.

It’s easy to snark at Saudi Arabia, but it would appear this is part of a broader diversification strategy to move away from oil dependence. And that’s almost worth applauding. Except for the minor detail that only a tiny fraction (2 miles) of this ambitious project is expected to be completed by 2030.

And let's not forget the logistics of hosting a 48-team tournament in a country where temperatures regularly soar above 38 degrees. Although, that’s probably the least of their worries. They'll just hold the tournament in winter, like Qatar did; and that certainly worked.

A render of the proposed Prince Mohammed bin Salman Stadium for the 2034 World Cup — Prince Mohammed bin Salman Stadium on top of a cliff

The 2034 World Cup will be the first to feature 48 teams and take place in a single country. The hosts are expected to be announced at the FIFA Congress in December, with Saudi Arabia unopposed currently:

Key Details:

Stadiums: 11 new stadiums planned, including one 350 meters above ground in Neom.
Locations: Riyadh (8 stadiums), Jeddah, Al Khobar, Abha.
Capacity: King Salman International Stadium in Riyadh will hold 92,760 spectators.
Sustainability: Neom stadium designed to run entirely on renewable energy.
Infrastructure: Plans for airport expansions, upgraded train lines, and bus routes to cater to 100 million visitors annually, an increase of 170% from 2023.
Cost: Hundreds of billions of dollars estimated for hosting and infrastructure.
Timing: Tournament likely to be held in winter due to climate conditions.

Challenges and Concerns:

Infrastructure: Building an entirely new city in Neom will be a significant undertaking, and there are no guarantees it’ll be built.
Cost: The proposed plans will require substantial financial investment.
Sustainability: Ensuring the sustainability of the stadiums and infrastructure will be crucial.
Human Rights: Concerns about sportswashing and the country's human rights record persist.

A render of Roshn Stadium in Riyadh for the 2034 Saudi Arabia World Cup — Roshn Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi 2034

As the world watches Saudi Arabia's extravagant World Cup aspirations unfold, one can't help but wonder: is this a visionary leap into the future of sports, or a cautionary tale of unchecked ambition and misplaced priorities?

Whatever that two-mile ‘stretch’ promised by 2030 is, it’d better have good parking.