Saudi Arabia Reportedly Suspends Plans to Build 'NEOM Stadium' for 2034 World Cup

Saudi Arabia has reportedly suspended its plans to build the "NEOM Stadium" for the 2034 FIFA World Cup, Reuters reported on October 4 (local time).

Citing two sources familiar with the matter, Reuters reported that the construction plans for NEOM Stadium are currently on indefinite hold.

Dubai-based construction market intelligence firm MEED Projects has also classified the 2.5 billion dollar (3.3725 trillion KRW) NEOM Stadium project as "on hold," based on data from its analytical team tracking regional tenders and projects, Reuters added.

Reuters also pointed out that unlike other stadiums and facilities being newly built or renovated by Saudi Arabia for the 2034 World Cup—which MEED Projects data indicates are scheduled for completion between 2026 and 2033—no completion date has been provided for NEOM Stadium.

NEOM Stadium had drawn attention as the most ambitious among the 15 stadiums being newly built or renovated by Saudi Arabia for the 2034 World Cup.

According to construction plans unveiled in 2024, NEOM Stadium was slated to be built with a 46,000-seat capacity in "NEOM," the low-carbon future city under construction in Saudi Arabia, to host group-stage matches, the round of 32, the round of 16, and the quarterfinals.

It also attracted attention for its planned location on a 350-meter-high cliff along "The Line"—a massive linear structure measuring 200 meters wide, 500 meters high, and 170 kilometers long within NEOM City—accessible only by autonomous vehicles and high-speed lifts, and operated on eco-friendly renewable energy such as wind and solar power.

However, as Saudi Arabia has faced difficulties in oil transportation and damage to core infrastructure due to Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz following the war sparked by US and Israeli attacks on Iran in late February, it has begun adjusting construction plans for "The Line," which appears to have impacted the construction of NEOM Stadium as well.

Previously, in April, Yasir al-Rumayyan, governor of Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) which is building NEOM City, stated that The Line is not a priority for NEOM City and that completing it before the initially targeted first-phase completion year of 2030 is not essential.

However, he added at the time that no projects have been canceled.

Regarding Saudi Arabia's previous plan to excavate a tunnel beneath The Line to operate highways, subways, and freight transport railways, a consortium consisting of Samsung C&T and Hyundai Engineering & Construction, which had won the tunnel construction contract, previously announced in March that it received a contract termination notice from the client due to project restructuring.

Reuters reported that the Saudi government media office and NEOM officials have not made any official comments regarding the suspension of NEOM Stadium construction.

It added that Saudi authorities related to the World Cup hosting only stated that significant progress is being made in major stages of World Cup construction projects, but did not respond to questions regarding NEOM Stadium.

However, Reuters explained that the newly built Aramco Stadium in the eastern city of Al Khobar is scheduled to be completed by the end of this year and host its first match next January, while construction on other stadiums is also progressing.

(Photo provided by the Saudi World Cup Bid Committee, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.