Football Stadiums in Kingdom Witness a New Era and Historic Renaissance

Football stadiums in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are experiencing a new era and a historic renaissance. The development of the sports sector, especially football, in the Kingdom is clear to all; it is due to the tireless efforts of the Ministry of Sport and the Saudi Football Federation, which enjoy unprecedented support from the wise Saudi leadership.
 These efforts have significantly contributed to the Kingdom’s bid to host the FIFA World Cup™ 2034, which received an impressive rating of 419.8 out of 500, according to the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) Bid Evaluation Report on November 30. It is the highest technical score awarded by FIFA to any bid to host the World Cup in history. This achievement reflects the pioneering role of the Kingdom, and the remarkable shift, in the sports sector, underpinned by the comprehensive goals outlined in Saudi Vision 2030.
 The Kingdom's readiness to host this major event is the result of relentless efforts to advance the sports sector, including through lending support to and developing the sports facilities.
 Today, there are 20 sports cities in various Kingdom regions and governorates:
 - King Fahd Sports City Stadium in Riyadh.
 - Prince Faisal bin Fahd Sports City, commonly referred to as "Al-Malaz Stadium" in Riyadh.
 - King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah, "the Shining Jewel".
 - Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal City in Jeddah, known to football fans as "Youth Care Stadium".
 - King Abdulaziz Sports City in Al-Sharaie, Makkah.
 - Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Sports City in Madinah.
 - King Abdullah Sports City in Qassim.
 - Prince Abdulaziz bin Musaed Sports City in Hail.
 - Al-Majma'ah Sports City in Al-Majma'ah.
 - Prince Sultan Sports City in Abha.
 - Prince Abdullah bin Jalawi Sports City in Al-Ahsa.
 - Prince Saud bin Jalawi Sports City in Al-Khobar (Al-Rakah Stadium).
 - Prince Hazlul Sports City in Najran.
 - King Faisal Sports City in Jazan.
 - Prince Nasser Sports City in Wadi Al-Dawasir.
 - King Khalid Sports City in Tabuk.
 - Prince Nayef Sports City in Qatif.
 - King Saud Sports City in Al-Baha.
 - King Fahd Sports City in Taif.
 - Prince Abdullah bin Musaed Sports City in Arar.
 Three stadiums were renamed and transformed into integrated sports cities, and the capacity of the stands in several other stadiums was increased by developing their internal facilities.
 Among the most notable stadiums is "Al-Malaz Stadium", now named Prince Faisal bin Fahd Sports City Stadium. Built in Riyadh in 1969, it has a capacity of over 20,000 seats and has hosted many finals, including the King’s Cup and the Arabian Gulf Cup Championship in 1972.
 King Fahd Sports City Stadium is the jewel of the Kingdom's stadiums, notable for its beautiful design and the capacity of 68,000 seats. It has hosted numerous significant events since its opening in 1987, including the 1989 FIFA World Youth Cup and the first three editions of the FIFA Confederations Cup, in 1992, 1995, and 1997, as well as three editions of the Arabian Gulf Cup, in 1988, 2014, and 2022.
 In Dammam, Prince Mohammed bin Fahd Stadium is one of the most prominent sports venues in the Kingdom. Built in 1973, it has a 36,000-seat capacity; it is being developed to increase its capacity for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup.
 King Abdullah International Stadium in Jeddah, "the Shining Jewel", opened in 2014 and can accommodate more than 62,000 spectators. It has hosted many finals and major international sporting events, including the 2023 Club World Cup and the Spanish Super Cup. It is located near Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Sports City, which has also been developed to maintain its historical significance and to continue to host key matches between Saudi clubs and of the national team.
 Currently, many cities and governorates in the Kingdom are witnessing a significant renaissance in sports, especially with the construction and development of sports facilities and football stadiums.
 The Ministry of Sport has announced its commitment to undertaking this construction, preparing for the upcoming global football events: the AFC Asian Cup 2027 and FIFA World Cup 2034. The unique hosting bids for these events have been widely recognized by FIFA.