Saudi Arabia looking to 'reinvent' football stadiums at 2034 World Cup

Saudi Arabia has unveiled its plans for a state-of-the-art stadium, set to be a key venue for the 2034 World Cup. This ambitious project is part of the kingdom's broader strategy to become a major player in global sports over the next decade, something which is regularly discussed today on TV.

The new stadium, which will be named after Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, will be perched atop a 200-metre-high cliff near Riyadh. With its retractable roof and field, plus an LED wall with hundreds of metres of screens designed to create an immersive experience for fans, it promises to redefine spectator sports.

The Qiddiya Investment Company (QIC), which is wholly owned by the Public Investment Fund, and chaired by the crown prince himself, announced that this futuristic venue will have a seating capacity of 45,000. It is intended to become the home ground for Al-Nassr and Al-Hilal - two Riyadh clubs who last year signed football superstars Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar respectively.

This innovative stadium forms part of the larger Qiddiya City project that aims at creating an entertainment, gaming and sports hub located just 45km from downtown Riyadh. The LED wall within the stadium has been designed to open out onto views of the city below.

The QIC manages about $700bn in Saudi sovereign wealth including investments in projects like LIV Golf and English Premier League club Newcastle United.

"The futuristic venue aims to reinvent the traditional stadium concept. The lake will use rainwater capture from the stadium and the surrounding area to precool the air conditioning system." the QIC said.

In addition to the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Stadium, the city of Neom is also likely to be included in the World Cup project.

Despite these ambitious plans, concerns have been raised regarding their environmental impact. The Qiddiya stadium, for instance, is planned to have a lake built beneath it.

Moreover, Saudi Arabia's human rights record will need to align with FIFA’s guidelines which are based on the United Nations’ guiding principles on business and human rights. This includes ensuring workers' rights are protected during construction.

Officials in Saudi Arabia have expressed their desire to host all 104 games of the 2034 World Cup within its territory. However, several neighbouring states could potentially join this project.

The architect attached to this new Saudi stadium project is Populous - a firm known for its work on Olympic stadiums in Australia and Russia as well as designing the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in England.

As Saudi Arabia prepares not only for the 2034 World Cup but also for hosting the 2027 Asian Cup, it's clear that they're making significant strides towards becoming a global sports powerhouse.