SHOCK DECISION FROM SAUDI ARABIA: NEOM STADIUM CANCELLED

Saudi Arabia officially signed a surprise decision that deeply shook the football world ahead of the 2034 World Cup. According to news originating from RMC Sport, the host country completely gave up on the futuristic NEOM Stadium project worth 2.5 billion euros, which it planned to build within the scope of the giant city project named "The Line". The officials announced that this unique sports complex, which would have a capacity of exactly 46.000 spectators and be built at a height of 350 meters from the ground, was cancelled. Designed as a large technological show area, this stadium would offer an unforgettable visual feast to all sports fans. However, the great budget cuts and serious delays in the projects experienced in recent months brought the end of this crazy idea. The administration of the Gulf country put such a radical decision into practice in order to bring the rapidly increasing costs under control. Accepted as one of the most extraordinary stadium designs in football history, the NEOM Stadium would be one of the main centers of the 2034 World Cup matches. The shelving of this giant investment promising a match viewing experience among the clouds created a huge disappointment in many architects and sports authorities around the world. The Saudi Arabian Football Federation officials reported that the other stadiums that will host the tournament will be completed as planned and no delay will occur. But this cancellation decision also created very big question marks about the future of "The Line" mega city. The cancellation of one of the biggest pillars of this project, introduced to the whole world with a huge advertising campaign for years, clearly revealed the strategic changes in the country's economy. Whether the other expenditures Saudi Arabia will make on its sports infrastructure in the coming years will suffer similar cuts became a matter of great curiosity. The sports public will follow the new steps the host country will take for the 2034 World Cup very closely. The organization committee will announce the new stadium plans in a short time. This large-scale decision also deeply affected the construction sector in the region. This flash development that occurred opened the giant costs of international tournaments to discussion with all its nakedness once again.

IMAGE: SAMAA