RIYADH: Saudi Arabia is set to deliver a FIFA World Cup in 2034 that saves $450 million on costs but surpasses revenue trends, according to a report from the world football governing body.
The bid evaluation document projects money from ticket and hospitality will surpass baseline projections by 32 percent, or $240 million.
FIFA evaluated organizing costs using figures from previous World Cups, adjusted for the expanded 104-match format, a 14-stadium concept, inflation, and local economic conditions.
While excluding expenses like prize money and team participation costs, FIFA highlighted Saudi Arabia’s competitive pricing, with key cost areas such as technical services and security forecast to be $133 million and $58.9 million below baseline, respectively.
By comparison, Qatar spent an estimated $220 billion to host the 2022 World Cup, the most expensive in history. Much of that investment went toward infrastructure, including stadiums, roads, and public transport.
Hosting major sporting events such as the FIFA World Cup are aligned with Saudi Arabia’s economic diversification efforts which aims to reduce the Kingdom’s decades-long dependence on crude revenues.
In November, experts told Arab News that Saudi Arabia could expect a gross domestic product boost of between $9 billion and $14 billion from the event, as well as the creation of 1.5 million new jobs, and the construction of 230,000 hotel rooms developed across five host cities.
For Saudi Arabia, key cost drivers include $378.4 million for television operations, $273.8 million for workforce management, $124 million for transport, $111.1 million for team services, and $99.5 million for IT and telecommunications, according to the bid report.
“Virtually all cost drivers are currently forecast as being below the baseline, with some cost items, such as staffing costs, event transport, team accommodation, and competition management generally expected to remain in line with baseline levels,” FIFA noted.
The governing body expects food and beverage revenues to align with baseline figures, while online and licensing revenue streams are forecast to outperform by $7 million.
The Kingdom’s time zone, which allows viewers across Asia, Europe, and Africa to watch matches during prime hours, is expected to drive a 10 percent increase in global live television audiences compared to the 2026 edition.
Sustainability at the core
Saudi Arabia has pledged to host the 2034 tournament with sustainability at the forefront, incorporating renewable energy and achieving LEED Gold certification for buildings and operations. These green initiatives are expected to reduce energy consumption significantly compared to traditional standards.
The Kingdom also plans to repurpose World Cup stadiums as multi-purpose entertainment venues and homes for Saudi Pro League teams, ensuring long-term benefits for football and local communities.
Infrastructure development
The World Cup bid underscores Saudi Arabia’s commitment to becoming a global tourism hub.
Each proposed host city has undergone significant development under Vision 2030, with heavy investments in tourism infrastructure to support major events across sports, arts, culture, and business.
Events like FIFA World Cup 2034 and Expo 2030 are expected to strengthen Saudi Arabia’s non-oil economy, providing business and lending opportunities for financial institutions, according to a November report by Moody’s.
