Reuters: Saudi Arabia scraps plan for largest 2034 World Cup stadium
Reuters, citing two sources, reported that Saudi Arabia is backing away from plans to build one of its most ambitious stadiums for the 2034 FIFA World Cup, following delays and a downsizing of the futuristic project that includes the stadium.
The sources added that the geographical distribution of stadiums complicates the implementation of the projects. The situation could be exacerbated by the postponement or downsizing of some projects that were set to host stadiums, such as (The Line) or (New Murabba) in Riyadh.
The NEOM stadium was described as a suspended stadium in a stunning 160-kilometer-long glass and steel project known as (The Line), which is part of the broader development project known as NEOM. Saudi Arabia is also working on building or renovating 15 stadiums in five cities, in addition to dozens of training facilities.
The NEOM project was proposed about a decade ago as a cornerstone of Vision 2030, set by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the Kingdom's de facto ruler, an ambitious plan to diversify the economy and reduce dependence on oil.
Yasir Al-Rumayyan, governor of the Public Investment Fund (PIF), the kingdom's sovereign wealth fund and owner of the NEOM project, said in April that The Line project is no longer a priority and is not necessary before 2030, the original delivery date for its first phase. However, he denied the cancellation of any projects. Nevertheless, the two sources told the agency that plans to build the NEOM stadium have been suspended indefinitely.
The 2034 World Cup is a significant event for Saudi Arabia, which has made huge investments in sports through the Public Investment Fund as part of Vision 2030. It will be the first edition of the World Cup to be held with its expanded 48-team format in a single country.
المصدر: Reuters
