Viral ‘Sky Stadium‘ for 2034 World Cup in Saudi Arabia Revealed as AI Concept
RIYADH – Images of a futuristic stadium perched atop skyscrapers in Saudi arabia,initially presented as a potential venue for the 2034 FIFA World Cup,have been revealed as an AI-generated concept created by digital artist Liam Hawes,owner of the Instagram account “hyporultraworks.” The designs circulated widely online, fueled speculation about innovative infrastructure for the tournament, but the planned city to house the stadium, “The Line,” does not yet exist.
The elaborate renderings gained traction with over 50 million views, prompting widespread discussion about the feasibility of such a structure. However, the project was based on a purely imaginative exercise.”I simply used an image designer. I lay in bed before I fell asleep and toyed with the idea of stadiums on top of skyscrapers because thatS something that would be known worldwide,” Hawes told the Daily Mail. He confirmed the images were created using an AI image generator as a personal concept, and shares numerous other stadium designs on his Instagram channel.
The revelation comes amid ongoing scrutiny of Saudi Arabia’s preparations for the 2034 World Cup, a tournament already facing criticism regarding human rights concerns, restrictions on press freedom, and working conditions for migrant laborers involved in stadium construction. Similar regulations to the controversial 2022 Qatar World Cup, including a ban on alcohol in and around stadiums, are also expected to be implemented. FIFA awarded the tournament to Saudi Arabia in december of last year following a process widely considered questionable.
