Saudi Arabia Submits Bold World Cup Bid That Includes a Cliffside Arena

Saudi Arabia does not have any competition to host the 2034 World Cup, but that isn’t stopping the nation from pulling out all the stops in its bid.

The Middle Eastern nation submitted its formal bid to FIFA in Paris on Wednesday, and it included plans to construct 11 new stadiums, according to ESPN. Saudi Arabia’s complete bid includes 15 stadiums in five host cities—including Neom, a still unbuilt city in the northwest region of the country.

Neom—which the country dubs as a “future global hub”—will be home to the most distinct of the proposed stadiums, built nearly 1,150 feet above the ground. The Neom Stadium will seat 45,000 and will be built into a cliff edge in the region called “The Line,” which will have no roads, cars, and emissions, and it will run on 100% renewable energy. The stadium will therefore be accessible via only transit or driverless vehicles. 

“Neom Stadium will be the most unique stadium in the world,” Saudi’s committee wrote in an outline of its bid. “With a pitch situated more than 350 meters above ground, stunning vistas, and a roof created from the city itself, the stadium will be an experience like no other.”

FIFA is expected to confirm the host for the 2034 World Cup later this year.

Sports Stronghold

It’s no secret Saudi Arabia is going all in on sports. 

The Saudi World Cup bid highlights the soccer investments of its Public Investment Fund, which include signing the likes of soccer megastars Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar to Saudi Pro League contracts worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

The country funds LIV Golf, the PGA Tour rival that has signed many of the Tour’s players by offering them life-changing contracts and lighter schedules. The PIF and PGA Tour announced there would be a merger between the two sides, but it’s still unclear how exactly the partnership will work.

While those are two of the country’s more prominent investments, it has also hosted other high-profile sporting events, including an annual Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, boxing matches featuring the likes of Tyson Fury and Francis Ngannou, as well as WWE premium live events.

The next step for the country could be minority ownership of a major U.S. sports team. While the NFL has yet to open ownership stakes to private equity or sovereign wealth funds, other major sports leagues like the NBA and MLS have removed restrictions.

Looming Criticism

The most prominent cloud hanging over Saudi Arabia’s investments is the accusations of sportswashing—that the country is using sports to hide human-rights violations such as inequitable treatment of women.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver said in an interview on The Dan Patrick Show last year he has not received a bid from the Saudis for a team. He did not dismiss a potential investment from the Saudis, though he labeled it as a “two-edged sword.

“When the Saudis invest in sports, it gets outsized attention,” Silver said in response to a question about the merger. 

The country’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said last year that he isn’t fazed by any sportswashing claims.

“If sportswashing [is] going to increase my GDP by 1%, then I will continue doing sportswashing,” bin Salman said.