05/10/2026
One of the most futuristic stadium projects ever announced may have just disappeared from Saudi Arabia’s plans for the 2034 FIFA World Cup. 🏟️🇸🇦
According to reporting by Reuters, plans for the 46,000-seat NEOM Stadium have reportedly been “shelved indefinitely.”
And this wasn't supposed to be an ordinary stadium.
The venue was planned to sit approximately 350 meters above the ground, integrated into The Line - the futuristic 170-kilometre-long linear city that became the centerpiece of Saudi Arabia’s massive NEOM development.
It was even presented in Saudi Arabia’s World Cup bid as the “most unique stadium in the world.” 🤯
The NEOM Stadium was one of 15 venues planned for the 2034 World Cup, including 11 new stadiums and four existing venues that would be renovated or expanded.
Now, its future is uncertain.
❓ Will Saudi Arabia build another stadium to replace it?
❓ Or will the 2034 World Cup be played across just 14 venues?
The development comes as The Line itself faces major setbacks, with its enormous construction plans reportedly being scaled back and widespread redundancies planned across NEOM.
Meanwhile, other Saudi World Cup projects are continuing, including the Aramco Stadium by Populous, which is scheduled to open next year.
And this isn't the first major sporting project to disappear from NEOM.
The planned Trojena ski resort, which was supposed to host the 2029 Asian Winter Games, has also been cancelled as a host venue.
For a project that promised to redefine what a stadium could be, the question now is simple:
Was NEOM Stadium just too ambitious to become reality? 👀
Follow SportsRender for more updates on the world's biggest and most futuristic stadium projects. 🏟️🌍