Saudi Arabia has secretly suspended the implementation of plans to build a $2.5 billion stadium that was intended to be a venue for the 2034 FIFA World Cup. Delays in the flagship project of the country, NEOM, cast doubt on some of the kingdom's most ambitious undertakings.
According to a report by Reuters, citing the construction analytics platform MEED Projects, the construction of this stadium has been halted and classified as 'suspended' without a set completion date. This stadium was supposed to be one of the most futuristic sports facilities within Saudi Arabia's plans for the World Cup.
Previously, in 2024, Saudi Arabia presented its venues for the 2034 World Cup, among which the NEOM stadium was listed as one of 15 proposed sites across five cities. MEED at the time indicated that the stadium would accommodate 46,000 spectators and would be built within The Line project.
FIFA selected Saudi Arabia to host the tournament in December 2024. This championship, which will feature 48 teams, will be the first in history held entirely within one country. However, recent events are casting a shadow over the prospects of The Line—the new master plan underpinning the economic transformation vision of Vision 2030 promoted by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Yasser Al-Rumayyan, the Governor of the Public Investment Fund (PIF) which owns NEOM, stated in April that The Line had ceased to be a priority and was not a top priority until 2030, although he refrained from confirming the cancellation of any projects. Meanwhile, according to reports, the official Saudi Arabian body for hosting the 2034 World Cup claimed that a significant portion of construction work for the tournament was already underway, showing images of other stadiums.
Economic Pressure
This decision followed months after the suspension of construction on The Mukaab—a colossal cubic skyscraper planned as a central element of the New Murabba development in Riyadh. It is reported that the PIF is shifting focus away from some expensive mega-projects towards investments expected to yield financial returns more quickly.
The decision regarding NEOM comes amid growing economic and security pressures on Saudi Arabia. The kingdom's energy exports have suffered due to the war between the US and Israel against Iran, while Houthi rebels in Yemen continue to attack Saudi infrastructure. On Saturday, the Houthis claimed responsibility for an attack near an Aramco facility in Riyadh; a witness reported smoke and fire, although Saudi authorities and Aramco did not immediately confirm the incident.
Following a slowdown in oil production, the Saudi Ministry of Finance forecasts a budget deficit for the current year and a drop in real GDP by 3.6 percent. For Mohammed bin Salman, the 2034 World Cup is a key element of his vision to strengthen global influence and the economy. Furthermore, FIFA highly praised Saudi Arabia's proposal, calling it 'absolutely incredible.'
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