9 months ago
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Cristiano Ronaldo's club Al Nassr are set to nearly double their capacity as they prepare a new stadium ahead of the 2034 World Cup.
Al Nassr, who signed Ronaldo in 2022, look set to upgrade their current dwellings from the Al-Awwal Park, which has a capacity of 25,000.
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The new and improved upgrade will see them move into a brand new 45,000-seater stadium - including new technology that has never been seen before in a football ground.
Saudi Arabia are the frontrunners to host the World Cup in 2034 after becoming the sole bidder.
Australia's withdrawal from the bidding has given the Saudis a clear run at the competition and the Gulf state are ready to splash out.
And that includes elaborate plans to build new stadiums across the country with Al Nassr set to benefit.
Courtesy of the Saudi government, a new stadium will be built ahead of the 2034 World Cup and be named the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Stadium.
Some of the plans include a gigantic LED wall that will feature hundreds of metres of screens that will open out on to views below the ground.
There is also a retractable roof and pitch but the draw will be the futuristic feel that the LED screens will give.
It will be situated on top of 200-metre high cliff near Riyadh with a manmade lake built underneath the stadium, which will keep the ground cool.
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With the Saudi Public Investment Fund financing the construction through the Qiddiya Investment Company, architectural firm Populous have been tasked with designing the stadium.
That is the same firm responsible for building the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, which is renowned as one of the most innovative grounds in Europe.
Tottenham's new home, which finished completion in 2019 before opening in April, features a retractable football pitch with an NFL pitch underneath.
While Al Nassr's stadium will not involve anything related to American football, it will also include state-of-the-art features.
After announcing the plans, the Qiddiya Investment Company said: "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."
Whether Ronaldo will still be around to play at the stadium looks unlikely with construction yet to start.
The 38-year-old signed for Al Nassr in December 2022 and the Euros this summer could be his final international tournament with Portugal.
Al Nassr are also set to ground-share with Al Hilal when the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Stadium opens.
