Is Saudi Arabia's “Sky Stadium” for the 2034 World Cup Real or Just AI?

A video recently circulating on social media shows a giant football stadium perched atop a skyscraper, like something out of a futuristic movie. It is said to be the “NEOM Sky Stadium” to be built in Saudi Arabia for the 2034 World Cup.

The video is so realistic that many assumed that the stadium was already under construction. But investigation has shown that the video is a concept image created entirely with artificial intelligence (AI), which has not yet become a reality.

Saudi Arabia’s future plans

However, the news is not entirely false. The Saudi government has already announced plans to build 15 state-of-the-art stadiums in preparation for the 2034 World Cup, one of which is the ‘Cloud Stadium’ in the NEOM megacity.

It will be built in a smart city called “The Line” in northwestern Saudi Arabia which is a 170-kilometer-long, 500-meter-high urban project that will have no roads or cars. The stadium will be built at an altitude of about 350 meters above the ground, or about 1,150 feet.

It will hold about 46,000 spectators. It will run entirely on renewable energy—such as solar and wind power.

When will the work start and end?

According to government plans, construction of the NEOM Stadium is expected to begin in 2027 and be completed by 2032. That is, it will be fully ready to host matches in the 2034 World Cup.

Saudi Arabia is investing about 1 billion US dollars in this project. When completed, it will be one of the highest and most expensive stadiums in the world.

However, many are keeping the construction of a stadium at such a height as just a ‘concept’. Experts have raised questions about technical safety, earthquakes, physical stability, etc.

Reality vs. Fantasy

Although the scene in the viral video is not real, Saudi Arabia’s ambitious plan is not entirely fictional either. Engineering and safety studies are still underway to integrate the stadium into the main architecture of the city of “The Line.”

According to many experts, building such a stadium at a height of 350 meters is possible, but it will require extremely sophisticated engineering and advanced technology.

However, the video that everyone is watching is actually a fictional version of the future, but the idea behind it is not at all unrealistic. If this Saudi Arabian plan succeeds, the world will see football played in the sky for the first time, where reality and fantasy will come together in a unique architectural wonder.

Watch the video here.