Saudi Arabia Plans to Build the World’s First Sky Stadium for 2034 World Cup

Saudi Arabia is setting its sights high literally as it plans to build the world’s first-ever “Sky Stadium,” a futuristic venue designed to sit 350 meters above ground. 

The bold project is part of the country’s preparations to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup, and it’s already sparking conversations across the globe.

According to reports, the Sky Stadium will be located within The Line, a part of Saudi Arabia’s ambitious NEOM City project in the northwest desert. The stadium is expected to seat around 46,000 fans and will be powered entirely by renewable energy sources like wind and solar power.

Early concept images circulating on social media show a massive structure rising above the clouds, so tall that it towers even higher than Seoul’s 63 Building. The stadium’s design reportedly includes access through high-speed elevators, giving fans a surreal “football in the sky” experience.

Construction is expected to start in 2027 and finish by 2032, just in time for the World Cup. The project, estimated to cost about $1 billion, will be backed by Saudi Arabia’s powerful Public Investment Fund (PIF).

But the proposal has not come without criticism. Many fans online have raised safety and practicality concerns, questioning how thousands of people could move in and out of such a high structure using only elevators. 

Some have even called the idea a “show-off project,” while others jokingly compared its appearance to “Sauron’s Eye” from The Lord of the Rings.

Adding to the skepticism, some experts believe the viral images may be AI-generated and not part of any officially approved plan. Still, Saudi officials had hinted to FIFA last year that they intended to build “the world’s most unique stadium, 350 meters above ground,” suggesting the design might indeed reflect a real concept.

The Sky Stadium is just one of 15 venues Saudi Arabia plans for the 2034 World Cup. Among them, the King Salman International Stadium in Riyadh set to host the opening and final matches will hold nearly 93,000 spectators.