Saudi Arabia’s plans for hosting the 2034 World Cup look set to be significantly scaled back after doubts emerged over five new stadium builds.
The country’s Public Investment Fund will inform Fifa of its intention to scrap construction of the quintet of new venues, including ambitious projects in Qiddya and Neom, Semafor reported.
The other stadium builds set to be axed are in King Abdullah Economic City, Roshn and New Murabba, it added. Instead of eight new venues for 2034, there will now be three.
It comes amid drastic belt-tightening in Saudi Arabia this year, when it has come under military attack from Iran – in response to aggression from the US and Israel – and Houthis in Yemen.
Geopolitical instability has prompted PIF to revise its strategy, diverting money from high-profile investments such as LIV Golf to domestic and sustainable projects.
Aside from LIV Golf, which spiralled into bankruptcy after its funding was cut off, PIF has retreated from the WTA Finals in tennis and Saudi-based snooker tournaments.
Pressure to deliver 2034 World Cup stadiums
It was reported last week that the Neom stadium, part of The Line, had been shelved due to work grinding to a halt on the futuristic gigaproject.
Just last week, state officials admitted they were in a race against time to complete construction of the cliffside Prince Mohammed bin Salman Stadium in Qiddya.
It was due to be one of the main attractions in a brand new city designed to be an international destination for culture, sport and entertainment.
“We’re lucky enough to have a 2034 Fifa World Cup coming, so there’s a lot of pressure to deliver a world-class stadium, world-class training facilities, the infrastructure around mobility, hospitality, hotels have to be in place over the next decade,” said Qiddya director Marc Archer.
“There’s so much going on, and as you build a city, it’s not just placing sports, entertainment, arts and culture assets. It’s putting schools in place. It’s putting medical facilities in place. There’s a whole range of complicated jigsaw puzzles to put together.”
PIF was approached for comment.