History will be made in 2034 as the FIFA World Cup returns to the Middle East. It was announced in 2023 that Saudi Arabia would host the competition after no other nations put forward bids.
The event will give the nation a perfect opportunity to showcase all the work that it has put into the sport, and there is every chance that it could be a hugely successful competition following the success achieved by Qatar when hosting the 2022 edition of the tournament.
Significant money will be invested around the nation before the tournament gets underway in 2034, with organizers likely to build a number of new stadiums. However, one thing is for certain: it will rank among the most popular events in terms of online sports betting. But what are some of the futuristic stadium plans that we could be set to see in Saudi Arabia?
Plans In Place For First Stadium
One of the most iconic venues that we will be set to see in Saudi Arabia in 2034 will be located on the top of a 200-metre cliff in Riyadh. The new stadium will be named in honor of Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is largely regarded as the key figure in the nation winning the rights for the World Cup in 2034.
It is expected to be one of the most high-tech stadiums that we have ever seen in the world of football, with 45,000 fans expected to be housed in the arena. Among many of the key features that could be included in the stadium is the fact that it will have a retractable roof and field while also boasting LED walls for hundreds of meters of screens to be included in the layout of the stadium.
Aims To Reinvent Stadiums
The stadium will look unlike anything that can be found in the world, and it will be the centerpiece of the Qiddiya City Project. The new area will be focused on building a gaming and sports hub within Saudi Arabia from the downtown area of Riyadh. Organizers have revealed that the LED screens on the stadium will open up views so that visitors can see areas of the city below.
The new project that is being worked on within the region is owned by the Public Investment Fund. This fund has already made headlines across the world of sport, having invested in Newcastle United Football Club, as well as giving backing to the LIV Golf league, which has shaken up the world of golf at the highest level.
Future Plans For The Stadium
The long-term plans for the new stadium have already been revealed by the PIF, as they have announced that Al Hilal and Al Nassr will use the stadium for their Saudi Pro League fixtures once the World Cup has come to an end. That will make the stadium one of the most popular within the Middle East, as fans will likely flock to the arena to spectate club fixtures involving players such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar. When these stars arrived in Saudi Arabia, the popularity of online sports betting, especially football, was hugely raised among Arabic football fans.
Details surrounding the other stadiums that will be used for the World Cup will be announced in due course. FIFA has already revealed that Saudi Arabia is the only bidding nation for the competition, but the decision will still need to be formalized at the next FIFA Football Conference.
The 48-team tournament is one of the most profitable on the planet for hosting nations, as there will be a major influx of visitors throughout the competition. FIFA reports claim that 14 stadiums will need to be put forward to host fixtures in the tournament. Qiddiya Stadium is another of the new stadiums that will be constructed for the World Cup, with the arena set to have a lake underneath the stadium to help precool air conditioning within the stadium. The new stadium will be located in the futuristic city of Neom, which could be among the most visited during the World Cup in the 2030s.
Conclusion
The latest plans to host the 2034 World Cup are yet more evidence that Saudi Arabia is more than happy to put its money where its mouth is in terms of bringing the most significant sporting and, of course, sports betting events to the region.
Plans for a World Cup in the country have gained popularity following the decision to invest in the Saudi Pro League, with the competition becoming hugely followed in the Middle East following the signings of Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, and N’Golo Kante.