Saudi Arabia Unveils Ambitious Plans for 350m Stadium for World Cup 2034
This week, social media buzzed with a viral video showcasing a soccer stadium envisioned to rest atop a skyscraper, part of Saudi Arabia’s bid for the 2034 FIFA World Cup. The unofficial clip claims to depict a $1 billion, 46,000-seat venue high in NEOM, positioned 350 meters above the ground.
It’s unclear who created and circulated the video, which has excited viewers while also raising several queries about the building’s safety, the practicalities of post-match elevator lines, and its striking resemblance to the Eye of Sauron.
While the digital animation may lead some to believe it’s a glimpse into the future, it’s important to recognize it as a fantasy. However, the actual stadium slated for NEOM is a very real project that has been acknowledged for nearly a year among 15 designated venues for the upcoming World Cup. True to its ambitious design, the stadium will indeed be 350 meters tall, integrating with The Line—a futuristic city set to stretch more than 100 miles in northwest Saudi Arabia by 2045, powered by renewable energy.
The NEOM Stadium will be developed in collaboration with Neom, the Saudi Ministry of Sport, and the Public Investment Fund (PIF), with construction scheduled to begin in 2027 and completed by 2032, just before the World Cup kicks off.
Detailing the plan in their World Cup bid book, released by FIFA in November 2024, Saudi Arabia named the NEOM stadium “the most unique in the world.” Initial designs describe it as a “striking landmark” within The Line’s first district, which is expected to feature a large man-made marina as a showcase section ahead of the tournament.
The NEOM Stadium is designed to be part of a “sports-focused neighborhood” alongside a festival fan park for World Cup festivities, hotels, living spaces, an airport, a hospital, and a fully electric shuttle transport system.
Though positioned over 1,000 feet high, the stadium will occupy the fourth and fifth levels of The Line’s intricate five-tier structure, ensuring it doesn’t stand alone in the sky.
The viral images from this week have sparked significant interest, making the vision of a 350-meter-high, 100-mile-long megacity appear much more plausible.
Yet, a lingering concern remains: what would occur if a soccer ball were to be kicked over the top tier and plummeted to the ground? It would take a daring soul to attempt to catch it.
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