Riyadh: A viral AI-generated video depicting a spectacular “Sky Stadium” floating above the desert has deceived millions of social media users into thinking it was part of Saudi Arabia’s 2034 FIFA World Cup preparations. However, authorities have clarified that the futuristic structure is entirely fictional.
The widely shared clip appeared to show a football arena built atop a skyscraper, glowing over a desert skyline. Many online users believed it was an official design unveiled by Saudi Arabia, but officials have since dismissed the claims.
“This design is completely fake and has no link to Saudi Arabia’s actual World Cup infrastructure plans,” officials confirmed, emphasizing that it appears in no official documents or project lists.
While Saudi Arabia is indeed developing massive sports infrastructure projects as part of The Line — a futuristic megacity under its Vision 2030 initiative — none of the approved stadium designs resemble the viral creation.
According to AFP’s digital verification team, the video originated from an Instagram creator known as ‘hyporaultraworks’, who regularly shares AI-based architectural concepts. The creator admitted to AFP that the viral stadium video was an AI experiment that unexpectedly exploded online.
“It was just an imaginative AI concept exploring a skyscraper-style football stadium. I never expected it to go viral — it’s now crossed over 50 million views,” the creator said.
As Saudi Arabia prepares to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup, it continues to invest heavily in sports infrastructure, technology, and tourism. Yet, the so-called “Sky Stadium” remains a striking example of how AI-generated content can blur the line between fiction and reality in the digital age.
