Brazilian football star Neymar believes Saudi Arabia has the potential to host the best World Cup ever if the Kingdom secures the right to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup. After visiting the Saudi Arabia FIFA World Cup 2034 bid exhibition, Neymar, who has lived in Riyadh for a year, gave his full support to the bid.
Having witnessed the Kingdom’s deep love for football and its ambitious plans for 2034, Neymar shared his excitement: “I think it’s the best project I’ve ever seen in my life, and I’m happy to be part of it. It’s incredible. They’ve thought of everything, not just for the players, but also for the fans.”
Neymar’s tour of the exhibition, led by Hammad Albalawi, head of the Saudi Arabia FIFA World Cup 2034 bid unit, allowed him to explore the five proposed host cities—Riyadh, Jeddah, Al Khobar, Abha, and NEOM through interactive digital displays. The tour also featured scaled models of 15 proposed stadiums, showcasing the ambitious plans for the World Cup in 10 years.
Saudi Arabia aims to be the first-ever host of a 48-team World Cup, promising easy access with 60% of the world’s population within an 8-hour flight. The country’s internal flight times between host cities are expected to average under two hours, making travel convenient for both players and fans. Neymar highlighted this focus on convenience, saying:
“They’re thinking about the players, so we don’t have long flights. The idea is to get us from the game to the hotel and back quickly so we can recover faster.”
Neymar, who has witnessed the growth of football in Saudi Arabia, is impressed by the country’s investments in the sport and its rapid rise in the world of football. However, what stood out the most to Neymar was the warmth of the people.
“I was surprised by everything in Saudi Arabia. From the outside, we have a very different perspective. When people come here, they see how positive it really is. It’s been an amazing experience,” Neymar said.
The 32-year-old forward, who has lived in Saudi Arabia for over a year, feels settled and happy in the country. Despite an injury limiting his appearances for Saudi Pro League champions Al Hilal, Neymar has been overwhelmed by the support from local fans during his recovery. He credits the energy of Saudi Arabia’s youth population—63% of the country is under the age of 30 for creating an exciting atmosphere.
“There’s an incredible buzz here. So many young people, around my age, have followed my career for years. Everywhere I go, I feel so welcomed. I’m very grateful for their kindness,” Neymar added.
Looking to the future, Neymar is excited about making an even bigger impact on the game in Saudi Arabia and beyond. He understands his influence as a football star and sees it as an opportunity to inspire future generations. Neymar acknowledged the influence of fellow football icons, Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema, who, like him, inspire the youth.
“When you become an important figure in football, your influence grows. I’m aware of my role. What we want is to help. We want to inspire kids and youth to do the right things and bring joy to everyone with our football,” Neymar reflected.
