Football In The Clouds! Saudi Arabia's 'Sky Stadium' Plans Blow Up Internet; But Are They Real?

Last Updated:October 28, 2025, 20:03 IST

Saudi Arabia plans the NEOM Sky Stadium, suspended 1,150 feet above The Line in NEOM, for the 2034 FIFA World Cup, aiming for a futuristic venue amid 15 new stadiums.

(Credit: X)

Saudi Arabia’s 2034 FIFA World Cup is already being billed as the most ambitious and futuristic tournament in football history.

And nothing captures that vision quite like the rumoured “NEOM Sky Stadium."

Viral images online show what looks like a stadium perched atop a skyscraper nearly 1,150 feet above the desert floor: a jaw-dropping “Eye of Sauron"-style structure that’s had fans questioning whether it’s real or sci-fi.

While the images have lit up social media, reports suggest they may be digitally altered.

According to IOL, the concept of a stadium 350 meters above ground is genuine, but the viral renders don’t reflect official designs.

Saudi outlets such as Arab News have not mentioned any “sky stadium" in their official World Cup infrastructure updates yet.

Still, there’s truth behind the futuristic dream.

As part of its massive 2034 World Cup build-up, Saudi Arabia is developing 15 cutting-edge stadiums, including the King Salman International Stadium in Riyadh, which will seat over 92,000 fans when completed in 2029.

According to Construction Review, the proposed Sky Stadium’s design integrates into The Line, a linear smart city within NEOM, that will be housed in a single 170km-long building designed to have no cars, streets or carbon emissions.

The magazine also claimed that the NEOM Sky stadium will be the “world’s first sky stadium" for the 2034 World Cup glory.

“The stadium is suspended at an astonishing 350 meters (1,150 feet) above the desert floor within the futuristic NEOM city of The Line", the magazine stated.

The smart city of Neom is planned to be completed by 2045, but the section housing the stadium is scheduled to be up and running by 2032, two years before the country hosts the FIFA World Cup.

Siddarth Sriram

After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His long-term...Read More

After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His long-term...

Read More

News sports Football In The Clouds! Saudi Arabia's 'Sky Stadium' Plans Blow Up Internet; But Are They Real?

Read More