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FIFA has announced that all matches during the 2023 Club World Cup in Saudi Arabia will be held in the city of Jeddah.
Saudi Arabia was awarded hosting rights to the tournament back in February, with the event to be held from December 12-22.
Following a FIFA delegation visit to Jeddah to assess ongoing preparations for the tournament, the governing body has confirmed that the city will host all games. It will be the first time Saudi Arabia has hosted the Club World Cup.
During its visit, the FIFA delegation carried out detailed inspections of key infrastructure including King Abdullah Sport City Stadium (pictured) and Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium, as well as the proposed training and accommodation facilities.
King Abdullah Sport City Stadium has a capacity of 62,000 and is the largest stadium in Jeddah. Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium seats around 27,000 fans.
Yasser Al Misehal, president of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF), said: “We are delighted that Jeddah, with its state-of-the-art facilities and reputation for hosting major international sports events, has been selected as host city for the FIFA Club World Cup.
“Sport is a key driver of Saudi Arabia’s ongoing transformation under Vision 2030, which has established the Kingdom as one of the fastest growing and most exciting countries in world sport.
“We believe hosting international events like the FIFA Club World Cup provides an opportunity to grow the game further and inspire new and existing fans, while showcasing to the world Saudi’s hospitable culture and huge passion for football. Working closely with FIFA, we are ready to deliver an exceptional tournament and an unforgettable experience for players and fans.”
Saudi Arabia is an emerging presence in the football event hosting market and was recently awarded rights to stage the 2027 Asian Cup. The country has also been strongly linked to a bid for the 2030 World Cup, potentially as part of a joint effort with Greece and Egypt.
This year’s Club World Cup in Saudi Arabia will remain a seven-club event. Last week, FIFA announced that the US will host the first edition of its new and expanded 32-team Club World Cup, which is due to take place in 2025.
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