Saudi Arabia is reducing the number of new stadiums for the 2034 FIFA World Cup, with plans to cancel five venues. The country's Public Investment Fund will tell organizers the event will use ten locations, not the initial fifteen.
The new strategy involves six stadiums to be constructed and four older ones to be upgraded. This change is due to budget constraints, altered goals for the Vision 2030 initiative, and increased safety worries related to nearby unrest.
Projects halted
Stadium proposals for the NEOM zone, Qiddiya Coast, New Murabba, King Abdullah Economic City, and Roshn are now stopped. Development on the larger NEOM initiative, which features a long mirrored city called The Line, has mostly paused with no money assigned until beyond 2030.
The planned NEOM arena was designed as a large stadium high above the ground, built into The Line's roof. The population goal for the whole NEOM project by 2030 was later sharply decreased.
Tournament implications
Four of the remaining World Cup venues are also planned to be used for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup, set for early that year. Whether that event will happen in Saudi Arabia is uncertain because of the country's role in the Yemen conflict, where Houthi forces have targeted Saudi areas.
A source from the AFC stated that the "situation should be clear by the second week of November."
The main venue in the current plan is the King Salman International Stadium in Riyadh, a large arena chosen for the first and last matches. Construction continues on other new stadiums, such as one in Dhahran and the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Stadium in Riyadh.
FIFA earlier reduced the required number of pre-existing stadiums to help Saudi Arabia's initial bid. Authorities mentioned that the new plans are not final and could be adjusted. Shelbourne's next fixture is away to Bohemians on 23 October.
Background and full detail: Sportscape Magazine
