Saudi Arabia has quietly shelved plans to build the futuristic NEOM Stadium, which was slated to host matches at the 2034 World Cup. The 46,000-seat stadium was supposed to be built as part of the 170km-long mega city, The Line. The project was announced by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in 2021 but has been beset by issues and spiralling costs ever since.
Only 2.4km of foundation work completed
According to a report from earlier this year, just 2.4km of foundation work has actually been completed for the ambitious project, which has also been accused of human rights abuses, with native Huwaitat tribe forcefully removed from their land. Saudi Arabia was announced as the host of the 2034 World Cup by FIFA back in December 2024, with NEOM listed as one of the venues. The Saudi 2034 website promises it will be "built as a living laboratory – an accelerator of human progress", "a new model for livability" and "a future global hub".
Construction now classified as 'on hold'
But as reported by Reuters, construction intelligence platform MEED Projects says the NEOM Stadium is now classified as "on hold", putting its construction in serious doubt. Mirror Football has contacted NEOM to request comment. Saudi Arabia's pitch to FIFA for the 2034 tournament involved 15 stadiums - only four of which had actually been built at the time. Hosting the tournament was a central part of Bin Salman's vision for Saudi Arabia as he tries to diversify the Kingdom away from its reliance on oil.
Costs and scaling back
But the sky-high costs of The Line has seen a scaling back of ambition, with a reported $50billion (£37.8bn) already spent and an internal dossier suggesting it would take $8.8trillion (£6.6t) for the project to be completed by 2080. The NEOM Stadium was supposed to sit 350 metres above the ground, inside The Line. Promotional material shows a lavish and futuristic vision full of glass and mirrors. Now its construction is in serious doubt.
Speaking in April, Yasir al-Rumayyan, governor of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), claimed no NEOM projects had been completely shelved and that they were simply prioritising where to spend their money. The Mukaab, a giant cube-shaped skyscraper in Riyadh, was also recently suspended, with PIF moving away from grand long-term plans.
Wavering commitment to sport
The Middle Eastern country's commitment to sport has been wavering in recent years, with the country's decision to withdraw funding for LIV Golf in April a clear sign. With the World Cup coming to Saudi Arabia as part of the country's wider tourism goals, stadium infrastructure is a necessity. The Saudi World Cup 2034 Hosting Higher Authority recently said that "substantial delivery" of tournament infrastructure is underway. With the tournament featuring 48 teams, there is a great deal of pressure to deliver.
