Saudi set to drop plans for five 2034 World Cup stadiums

Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund intends to notify 2034 World Cup organizers of its decision to abandon five proposed new stadiums, according to sources familiar with the issue. The Public Investment Fund plans to narrow its scope to three new venues, the sources said, as it curtails spending on some of its prominent domestic investments.

Should Saudi drop the five stadiums, the kingdom would possess ten stadiums for World Cup matches. The kingdom is currently preparing a revised plan for submission to FIFA, the competition's organizers, the sources noted. PIF aims to discontinue developments in King Abdullah Economic City and Qiddiya Coast, both located near Jeddah; Roshn and New Murabba in Riyadh; and NEOM, situated in the northwest region of the country.

Certain of the cancelled stadiums are linked to other real estate projects that have stalled or seen reduced activity. Saudi officials are still finalizing the revised proposals, with the possibility of further changes, the sources indicated. Neither PIF nor the Saudi Ministry of Sport responded to inquiries for comment. Earlier, Reuters had reported the cancellation of the NEOM stadium, which was envisioned as being on top of The Line, a 500-meter-high skyscraper.

The Line's construction has effectively come to a standstill, and NEOM has not allocated funds for the project until after 2030, Semafor had previously reported. Saudi Arabia had also proposed a 45,000-seat stadium in Qiddiya Coast, a planned entertainment and tourism hub north of Jeddah. That project has likewise been put on hold.

Another 45,000-seat stadium in Riyadh's New Murabba district is also set to be abandoned. Development on the broader project has slowed following the departure of Chief Executive Michael Dyke and the suspension of work on the centerpiece, a 400-meter-tall cube-shaped skyscraper with screens lining its interior, akin to The Sphere concert venue in Las Vegas.

The kingdom continues to move forward with plans for other new stadiums, such as one in Dhahran under development by Saudi Aramco, and the King Salman International Stadium and Prince Mohammed bin Salman Stadium in Riyadh. These cutbacks could result in Saudi Arabia constructing only six new stadiums and renovating four existing ones for the World Cup.

Four of the stadiums slated for use in 2034 will also host matches for the 2027 Asian Cup, which commences in January. The future of that contest in Saudi Arabia has been called into question by the kingdom's involvement in the war in Yemen against Houthi militias. Recent Houthi attacks on Saudi cities have shut down the capital's airport and resulted in at least 18 deaths and hundreds of injuries.

Qatar had previously dropped four of the stadiums it had planned for the 2022 World Cup as the tournament approached.