Saudi Arabia prepares 17 venues for football season, 8 stadiums for 2027 Asian Cup

The Ministry of Sports has announced that 17 sports venues have been prepared to host Saudi football tournaments this season, while work is underway to ready eight stadiums in Riyadh, Alkhobar, and Jeddah for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup.

Thamer Bassenbal, Deputy Minister of Sports for Sports Facilities, said during a press conference that 2026 will be a pivotal year for Saudi sports, with new venues set to open. He confirmed that preparations for all facilities are progressing as planned.

Bassenbal explained that King Fahd Sports City will operate at its full capacity of 70,200 spectators and is expected to be ready by the end of this year to host the 2027 Asian Cup. He noted that the stadium's development is making significant progress by all standards.

He added that the Ministry has fully renovated the Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University Stadium, which will also serve as a venue for the 2027 Asian Cup and is scheduled for completion by year-end.

Regarding King Fahd International Stadium, Bassenbal stated that it was initially planned to close after the 2027 Asian Cup for further upgrades. However, the Ministry is working with the contractor to develop a mechanism to avoid closure.

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He noted that projects related to hosting the 2034 FIFA World Cup at King Fahd Sports City have been postponed until after the 2027 Asian Cup.

Bassenbal revealed that the initial plan was to upgrade King Fahd Sports City in Riyadh, but after winning the bid to host the 2034 World Cup, FIFA's requirements for hosting the semi-finals changed. This prompted the Ministry to divide the project into two phases.

He confirmed that preparations for the 2027 Asian Cup venues are on track, with ongoing work on projects linked to future tournaments.