I got Kingdom of Saudi Arabia The right to organize the 2034 World Cup, making it the first country to host 48 teams on its own, which prompted it to prepare major projects related to stadiums, facilities and hotel units, according to a report. “The East World Cup – Saudi Arabia 2034” Issued by “Al-Sharq News”.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said after the Kingdom was officially declared the winner of hosting the World Cup, today, Wednesday, that his country is “determined to contribute effectively to the development of football around the world.” Stressing that “the Kingdom will continue to spread messages of love, peace and tolerance, armed with its great capabilities and capabilities.”
FIFA President Gianni Infantino noted, during the event announcing the host countries, that “the 2034 World Cup will be unique and unprecedented.” Pointing out that the Kingdom “presented a comprehensive file.”
11 new stadiums
Saudi Arabia allocated 15 stadiums, including 11 new stadiums, with a total capacity exceeding 775,000 seats to host the matches. They were distributed into 8 stadiums in RiyadhAnd 4 stadiums in Jeddah, and one stadium each in Al-Khobar, Abha, and Neom.
King Salman Stadium, which will begin work next year and be ready in 2029, is the crown jewel of the new stadiums, as it will have the largest capacity of more than 92,000 spectators, and it will also host the opening and final matches.
The cities hosting the tournament will find support from 10 other cities, namely Al-Baha, Jazan, Taif, Medina, Umluj, Al-Ula, Tabuk, Hail, Al-Ahsa, and Buraidah, by hosting the teams’ camps before and during the tournament.
232 thousand hotel units
With 48 teams participating in the tournament, a record number of fans are expected to visit Saudi Arabia, which the Kingdom is preparing for by preparing more than 232,000 hotel units to host them, in the five cities where the matches will be held.
According to the data collected by the “World Cup Al-Sharq – Saudi Arabia 2034” report, the number of units already ready now is 47 thousand hotel units in Riyadh, Jeddah, Al-Khobar, NEOM and Abha, which means that more than 185 thousand hotel units will be prepared.
Saudi Arabia also allocated 10 arenas for fan celebrations in the five cities hosting the matches, characterized by diversification of crowd capacity, the largest of which is King Salman Park in Riyadh, which can accommodate about 80,000 fans.
Investments within Vision 2030
Saudi Arabia has not announced a budget allocated for the tournament, but Yasser Al-Mashal, President of the Saudi Football Federation, said in this regard to Al-Sharq: “There are no huge sums allocated to developing World Cup facilities, as the Kingdom is living in a phase… Vision 2030There is a very high demand for infrastructure, and plans to expand in hotels, hospitals, and the tourism sector, as well as in the football sector, and there is no problem with what is being spent, as it meets the needs.”
He added: “Without a doubt, there must be high economic feasibility. When millions of people visit the country, the legacy they leave and the impression of Saudi Arabia as a hospitable country makes these audiences repeat the experience.”
Despite the absence of specific numbers, it is expected that the cost of constructing and renovating the stadiums hosting the tournament will amount to approximately between 20 and 25 billion dollars, compared to global estimates of the cost of building stadiums. About 185,000 new hotel units will also be constructed, and huge equipment will be carried out at the level of roads, transportation and communications.
All of this is in addition to the Kingdom’s plans for growth and expansion, in preparation for welcoming the World Cup fans, whose number may reach 5 million fans, based on the number of participating teams, the crowd capacity of the stadiums, the large geographical area of the Kingdom, and the multiplicity of its attractions and the diversity of its atmosphere in various cities.
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