According to an exclusive report by US media outlet Semafor, Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund is preparing to inform the organizers of the 2034 FIFA World Cup men's tournament of its plan to abandon five proposed new stadiums for the event.
Sources indicate that the Public Investment Fund (PIF) may narrow its focus to three new stadiums as it scales back some ambitious domestic investments. After abandoning these five venues, Saudi Arabia will have 10 stadiums remaining for FIFA World Cup matches. Sources said these changes are part of a revised proposal Saudi Arabia is preparing to submit to FIFA.
The PIF is considering abandoning plans to develop stadiums in King Abdullah Economic City and Qiddiya on the coast near Jeddah, as well as Roshn and Murabba New City in Riyadh, and the NEOM development in northwestern Saudi Arabia (where a stadium was planned to be built atop high-rise buildings). Several of the cancelled stadiums were tied to large real estate projects that have stalled or slowed down.
Sources said Saudi officials are still refining the updated proposal, and plans may change. The Public Investment Fund and the Saudi Ministry of Sport did not respond to requests for comment.
Saudi Arabia had previously proposed building a 45,000-seat stadium in Qiddiya, a planned entertainment and tourism destination north of Jeddah. That development project has also been put on hold. Another 45,000-capacity stadium in Riyadh's Murabba New City will also be abandoned. The pace of this mega-development has slowed following the departure of CEO Michael Dykes and the halt of the project's centerpiece — a 400-meter-tall cube skyscraper with internal screens, similar to the Sphere concert venue in Las Vegas.
Saudi Arabia is still moving forward with plans for other new stadiums, including one developed by Saudi Aramco in Dhahran, as well as King Salman International Stadium and Prince Mohammed bin Salman Stadium in Riyadh.
Following the cutbacks, Saudi Arabia is expected to develop six new stadiums for the 2034 FIFA World Cup and renovate four existing ones. Four of the stadiums planned for use in 2034 will also host matches for the AFC Asian Cup, which begins in January 2027.
The hosting of the AFC Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia has drawn scrutiny due to the country's involvement in the war in Yemen against the Houthis. The armed group has launched multiple attacks on several Saudi cities in recent weeks, leading to the closure of the capital's airport, with at least 18 dead and hundreds injured.
Qatar similarly abandoned four planned new stadiums ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
AF's PC site is now live! Browse full news, comments, match details and stats on your computer. Visit: www.allfootballapp.com