Bid includes 11 new stadiums but PIF wants to cut costs
Architecture firms asked to resubmit plans, Guardian told
Saudi Arabia’s construction of stadiums for the 2034 World Cup is facing delays owing to a desire from the Public Investment Fund (PIF), the kingdom’s sovereign wealth fund, to scale back costs.
The Guardian has been told that several architecture firms awarded contracts to build stadiums in Saudi have been asked to resubmit plans because their designs have been deemed too expensive, and contractors due to start work next year have been told the build will not begin on time.
There is widespread speculation within the construction industry that Saudi Arabia may reduce the number of stadiums to be used at the World Cup from the 15 included in its bid, which was approved by acclamation by Fifa last December. The 2022 World Cup in Qatar operated with eight stadiums, although after the expansion to 48 teams next year’s tournament in the United States, Mexico and Canada will have 16 venues.
