Saudi Arabia ‘to abandon’ Neom stadium project ahead of 2034 World Cup | OneFootball

Saudi Arabia has reportedly quietly ended its Neom scheme, including the city known as "The Line", as well as the future stadium of Christophe Galtier’s club that had been planned for the 2034 World Cup.

According to Reuters, the country is on the verge of abandoning its highly ambitious plan to build a 2034 World Cup stadium at Neom on the Red Sea coast. The team’s venue, sharing the Neom name, was envisaged as an elevated arena inside a 160km vertical city of steel and glass called "The Line".

The wider project was championed by crown prince Mohammed ben Salmane, launched about 10 years ago and targeted for 2030.

In April, Yasir Al-Rumayyan, governor of the Public Investment Fund that owns the Neom project, said "The Line", including the stadium, was no longer a priority, while denying it had been scrapped. The Saudi government has issued no comment. The report added that the city has been shelved indefinitely.

The organiser of the 2034 World Cup is currently working on 15 sites, either new builds or renovations, totalling $22.7 billion, according to MEED Projects. The Neom stadium, priced at $2.5 billion, is listed as on hold by the industry tracker, unlike other venues with completion dates between 2026 and 2033.

Source: L'Équipe

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