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Saudi Arabia's ambitious plans for a futuristic World Cup stadium have reportedly been shelved as doubts continue to grow over the wider NEOM development.
The £1.9bn project was intended to become one of the most spectacular venues at the 2034 World Cup.
Why Saudi Arabia have shelved ambition ‘sky stadium' for 2034 World Cup
The proposed NEOM Stadium was planned as a 46,000-seat arena elevated inside The Line, the futuristic 100-mile development which has been a centrepiece of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 plans.
However, Reuters reports that plans for the stadium have now been shelved indefinitely, according to two sources familiar with the matter.
The stadium was expected to cost around $2.5bn (£1.9bn), with construction industry analysts MEED Projects listing the project as “on hold” with no completion date.
The development has faced growing uncertainty after NEOM governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan confirmed earlier this year that The Line was no longer a priority, although he insisted that projects had not been cancelled.
Saudi Arabia is still pressing ahead with its wider World Cup preparations, with 15 stadiums planned across five cities alongside numerous training facilities. The total value of the stadium projects is estimated at $22.7bn.
However, the reported shelving of the NEOM Stadium adds to evidence of a broader shift away from some of Saudi Arabia's hugely ambitious giga-projects towards developments offering more immediate financial returns.
FGG says: Saudi Arabia's World Cup plans face an important reality check
The NEOM Stadium was arguably the most eye-catching of Saudi Arabia's proposed 2034 World Cup venues, making its reported shelving a significant development.
The tournament is still eight years away and plenty of time remains to deliver the required infrastructure, but abandoning such an ambitious project demonstrates just how dramatically Saudi Arabia's priorities appear to be changing.
For football fans, this may ultimately mean a less futuristic World Cup than originally envisaged. However, with other stadium projects continuing, the wider tournament plans remain firmly on track for now.