In mid-December, FIFA officially announced that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia would host the 2034 FIFA World Cup. This decision marks the return of the global football tournament to the Arabian Peninsula, after the event was held in Qatar in 2022.

The announcement holds strategic significance for Saudi Arabia, aligning with the Kingdom’s broader agenda of hosting major events, such as the 2030 World Expo. It represents a crucial step in advancing its economic diversification strategy aimed at reducing reliance on hydrocarbons while strengthening its position on the global stage of international events. These large-scale initiatives are pivotal in enhancing Saudi Arabia’s international visibility and fostering economic and tourism growth.

As outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, sport is recognised as a vital element of the “Quality of Life” programme. Hosting the World Cup thus represents a significant milestone, underscoring the Kingdom’s ability to organise events of global magnitude. These endeavours are integral to Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.

The 2034 FIFA World Cup: A Defining Milestone

The 2034 FIFA World Cup is set to be a landmark event, marking the first time a single nation will host the tournament under its expanded format. Unlike the 2026 and 2030 editions, which will be jointly organised by multiple countries, the Saudi Arabian edition will showcase the revised structure of the tournament. The World Cup will now feature 48 teams instead of the previous 32, with 104 matches—an increase of more than 40 games compared to earlier editions.

Matches will be held across the Kingdom, in cities such as Riyadh, Jeddah, Al Khobar, NEOM, and Abha. To facilitate this, the Saudi organising committee has announced plans to construct 11 new stadiums and renovate 4 existing ones, resulting in a total of 15 venues spread across five cities. Riyadh will host eight of these stadiums, and four in Jeddah. Several stadiums are already under construction or in the planning phase.

An important milestone in the lead-up to the World Cup will be the 2027 AFC Asian Cup, also hosted by Saudi Arabia. Many of the stadiums will be inaugurated and utilised during this regional tournament, serving as a critical step in preparing for the 2034 World Cup.

Strengthening Saudi Arabia’s Global Influence in Sports and Global Appeal

By demonstrating its ability to translate ambitions into tangible achievements, the 2034 FIFA World Cup will further solidify Saudi Arabia’s position as a global hub for sports, culture, and entertainment. This accomplishment follows Riyadh’s successful bid to host Expo 2030 and builds on a series of upcoming major sporting events. Alongside year-round sports initiatives, the Kingdom is set to host the 2027 AFC Asian Cup, the Asian Winter Games in Trojena – Neom’s flagship winter sports destination – and the Esports World Cup, which took place in Riyadh during the summer of 2024 and will evolve into the Esports Olympics starting in 2025.

Although economic indicators are important, the significance of hosting a World Cup goes well beyond financial measures, especially in the Gulf region, where sports play a crucial role in enhancing influence and global visibility. In Saudi Arabia, integrating the FIFA World Cup into the broader Vision 2030 framework reflects a cohesive and structured approach to leveraging sports as a catalyst for global engagement.

The Economic Potential of the 2034 FIFA World Cup for Saudi Arabia

By adopting a rational and sustainable economic approach, Saudi Arabia has the potential to transform the 2034 FIFA World Cup into a powerful catalyst for attracting foreign investment, fostering the growth of new industries, and boosting tourism. Since opening to international tourism in September 2019, the Kingdom has aimed to position itself among the world’s leading tourist destinations by 2030. The tournament offers Saudi Arabia an opportunity to consolidate its status as an economic and strategic leader in the region. Experts project that hosting the World Cup could contribute an estimated $9–14 billion to the Kingdom’s GDP and create approximately 1.5 million jobs.

Drawing on data from previous World Cups and adapting it to the Kingdom’s economic context, FIFA estimates that commercial revenues from the 2034 tournament could surpass its reference figures by $240 million—an increase of over 32%. FIFA has also highlighted Saudi Arabia’s competitive cost structure, which provides a strong commercial outlook. Additionally, the organisation forecasts that hosting costs will be lower than the baseline estimate. Key areas of savings include technical services (-$133 million), security (-$58.9 million), and telecommunications services (-$43.3 million).

Moreover, integrating local businesses, particularly SMEs, into the value chains associated with the event could generate significant multiplier effects for the economy. This approach would not only support innovation but also facilitate the upskilling and competitiveness of Saudi enterprises.

Infrastructure Development to Accommodate a Global Influx of Visitors

To host the millions of visitors expected for the 2034 FIFA World Cup, Saudi Arabia must complete a range of infrastructure projects to facilitate the movement of athletes and tourists alike. Organising such a large-scale sporting event presents both a logistical challenge and an unparalleled economic and tourism opportunity for the Kingdom. Key initiatives include the Riyadh Metro and the Saudi Landbridge, a railway network connecting the country from east to west—from Dammam to Jeddah via the capital, Riyadh. These infrastructure investments, many of which have been underway for years, are not solely aimed at the World Cup but are integral to the broader development goals outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 strategy.

In 2023, the tourism sector contributed $21 billion to Saudi Arabia’s GDP. By 2030, the Kingdom aims to increase this contribution to $75 billion, demonstrating its ambition to position itself as a leading global destination.

Transportation and Aviation Expansion

The World Cup is expected to generate unprecedented demand for air travel. According to data from the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), Saudi airports welcomed 62 million passengers in the first half of 2024, a 17% year-on-year increase driven by rising demand for domestic and international travel. By 2030, Saudi Arabia aims to serve 250 destinations and accommodate 330 million passengers annually. For Expo 2030 in Riyadh, 40 million visitors are anticipated.

Saudia Airlines is doubling its fleet to meet growing demand, adding 191 new aircraft for a total of 381 planes and expanding its network from 100 to 200 destinations by 2030. The Kingdom currently operates 28 airports, including 14 international and 14 domestic facilities. King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, which served 42.7 million passengers in 2023 (+36% year-on-year), is the busiest airport, connecting to 126 international destinations. Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport and Dammam’s King Fahd International Airport follow in prominence. Riyadh’s airport is undergoing a $30 billion expansion, including six parallel runways and 12 square kilometres of airport facilities.

Hospitality Sector Growth

In terms of accommodation, Saudi Arabia had 100,000 hotel keys nationwide by the end of 2023, with nearly 57,000 located in the five cities set to host World Cup matches. While many hotel projects across the Kingdom target luxury tourism, this will not suffice to accommodate the diverse needs of international supporters. However, Saudi authorities have committed to offering over 230,000 hotel keys across various price ranges, from budget-friendly to high-end accommodations, in the five host cities by 2034.

Conclusion

In conclusion, milestones such as Saudi Arabia’s hosting of the 2034 FIFA World Cup will undoubtedly yield significant benefits for the Kingdom, both in terms of commercial prospects and as key deadlines aligned with the Vision 2030 objectives. Current and forthcoming investments hold a dual purpose: firstly, to meet the temporary demands associated with organising world-class events, and secondly, to contribute to the Vision 2030 agenda by establishing a sustainable foundation for long-term tourism growth.

The horizon extends beyond the event itself, towards a broader and more enduring vision. It is anticipated that the infrastructure developed for the World Cup will be repurposed effectively after the event, continuing to generate positive externalities well into the future, as they are seamlessly integrated into the Kingdom’s strategic plans. Given Saudi Arabia’s substantial, youthful population and the nation’s ambition to elevate its domestic football league into a significant economic driver – exemplified by the recent high-profile transfers of world-class players – the sports infrastructure will have a vital role to play. Furthermore, investments in transport and hospitality infrastructure are expected to support the Kingdom’s steadily increasing tourism sector, ensuring their utility and impact extend far beyond 2034.

Moreover, these projects and events remain a clear reflection of the Vision 2030 and the commitment to transforming visions into concrete actions, creating new opportunities for knowledge sharing, business collaborations, and investments for European companies on the Saudi market.