Saudi Arabia’s 2034 World Cup stadium plans face delays and cost-cutting

• 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.