Saudi Arabia plans to build eleven new stadiums for the 2034 Fifa World Cup, with each one more spectacular than the last—featuring screens and digital signage throughout.
The host of the 2034 Men’s World Cup has not been officially decided, but there is little doubt. Saudi Arabia is the sole bidder, and its selection in December 2024 is almost certain. The country has already outlined plans for eleven new World Cup stadiums, that – if built – would far surpass all of today’s modern sports arenas.
The two “crown jewels,” named after members of the royal family, have attracted special attention. The King Salman International Stadium, with a capacity of 92,000 spectators, is presented in the promotional video as an imposing force of nature. The MBS Stadium (Prince Mohammed bin Salman Stadium) was described by Bild newspaper as an “alien stadium from the future.” And while the other nine planned stadiums are more conventional in comparison, they are still nothing short of spectacular.
World Cup stadiums planned for 2034
There are fourteen venues in total, most of them in the capital Riyadh:
- King Khalid University Stadium (new)
- King Abdullah Sports City Stadium
- Qiddiya Coast Stadium (new)
- Jeddah Central Development Stadium (new)
- King Abdullah Economic City Stadium (new)
- Aramco Stadium (new)
- Neom Stadium (new)
- King Salman International Stadium (new)
- King Fahd Sports City Stadium
- South Riyadh Stadium (new)
- Prince Mohammed bin Salman Stadium (new)
- Prince Faisal bin Fahd Sports City Stadium
- King Saud University Stadium
- New Murabba Stadium (new)
- Roshn Stadium (new)
It has been proven time and again that such projects, while sounding surreal, are to be taken seriously on the Arabian Peninsula. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are investing heavily to position themselves as leaders in future technology, alongside their oil-driven economic power. This is evident in landmarks like the “Museum of the Future” and the ambitious plans for Neom, a high-tech city set to stretch across the desert and which is supposed to house one of the grandest of the new stadiums, the Neom Stadium.
Sports stadiums reaching a new level
Mock-ups of the arenas released by Saudi Arabia highlight a key trend in modern sports: digitalization. New stadiums are increasingly incorporating digital signage and massive LED displays to elevate the live experience.
So far, USA has been the country to showcase the most impressive projects in this area, but Saudi Arabia appears to be planning something even more advanced. The MBS Stadium’s exterior is almost entirely made up of screens. Inside, all the stadiums are to include large digital surfaces in various forms. The architects of the King Salman International Stadium, Populous, have specifically highlighted the inclusion of “internal screens.”
The digital signage industry is also benefiting from Saudi Arabia’s technological upgrade, with a sense of optimism and a gold-rush atmosphere in the Gulf. Displays and LEDs are being installed everywhere in Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam—whether in mega malls, cinemas, DooH, QSR restaurants, or corporate settings. European digital signage companies are expanding their presence, most recently German Lang AG. Despite political uncertainties, the country’s economic dynamism, driven by its 30 million-strong population, will continue to fuel this growth.