Saudi Arabia shelves $2.5bn Neom stadium planned for 2034 World Cup, report says

Saudi Arabia has reportedly suspended construction of a $2.5 billion 46,000-seat stadium planned for the 2034 FIFA World Cup, according to a Reuters report. The project, located 350 meters above ground within the Neom development, was part of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's ambitious Vision 2030 economic transformation plan. The stadium was one of 15 proposed venues across five cities unveiled by Saudi Arabia in 2024.

However, economic pressures, including disrupted energy exports due to the US-Israeli war on Iran and targeting by Yemen's Houthi rebels, have led to the suspension of the project. The Neom development, which has seen the suspension of other expensive giga-projects like The Mukaab skyscraper, now appears to be shifting away from such ambitious endeavors.