NEOM, Saudi Arabia - Plans for a $2.5 billion stadium at NEOM intended for the 2034 FIFA World Cup have reportedly been shelved indefinitely, according to Reuters.
The proposed 46,000-seat venue was planned within The Line and was expected to be one of the most ambitious stadiums in Saudi Arabia's World Cup programme.
Two sources familiar with the plans said the project has been put on hold amid delays and the broader scaling back of The Line.
Construction intelligence platform MEED Projects values the stadium at $2.5 billion and currently lists the scheme as on hold, with no expected completion date.
World Cup programme continues
Saudi Arabia is preparing to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup, with plans to build or renovate 15 stadiums across five cities alongside training facilities.
MEED Projects estimates the total value of World Cup-related projects at around $22.7 billion.
Most of the remaining stadiums and associated facilities are progressing at different stages of development, with completion expected between 2026 and 2033.
The Aramco Stadium in Al Khobar is among the projects moving ahead, with completion scheduled by the end of 2026.
The World Cup 2034 Hosting Higher Authority said substantial delivery of construction milestones is already taking place, although it did not specifically address the status of the NEOM Stadium.
Wider giga-project priorities shift
The reported decision comes as Saudi Arabia reassesses spending across parts of its Vision 2030 development programme.
The Line has been one of the projects affected by changes in delivery priorities. Earlier this year, Yasir Al-Rumayyan, Governor of the Public Investment Fund, said The Line was no longer a priority for completion before 2030, while maintaining that projects had not been cancelled.
Saudi Arabia has also reportedly suspended construction of The Mukaab, the planned centrepiece of the New Murabba development in Riyadh.
The changes reflect a wider focus on prioritising projects with clearer near-term economic returns, while major programmes linked to the 2034 World Cup continue to move forward.
