A viral AI video showing a futuristic football stadium for the Saudi 2034 World Cup spread like wildfire on social media. The clip, depicting a glowing arena atop a skyscraper, was widely believed to be the official design for one of the World Cup’s venues. However, this stunning visual had no connection to Saudi Arabia’s actual plans for the event.
While Riyadh has introduced a proposal for a football stadium as part of The Line, its upcoming megacity project, the viral clip didn’t match any official designs. The stadium in the video was entirely fictional and had no foundation in reality, according to a source familiar with the matter. They confirmed that it was not an official representation of Saudi Arabia’s 2034 World Cup infrastructure plans.
Several media outlets, including those in France, initially spread the AI-generated video as if it were official, later retracting or updating their stories once the misinformation was exposed. AFP’s investigation team traced the origins of the video back to the Instagram account “hyporaultraworks,” known for creating futuristic stadium concepts using AI tools.
The user behind the viral clip explained that they had made the video as part of an experimental concept, not linked to any real-world project. In a statement, the creator said that the video was merely an artistic exploration of what a vertical, skyscraper-style stadium might look like. They also expressed surprise at how the AI-generated design gained massive attention, ultimately amassing over 50 million views.
Saudi Arabia is currently preparing for the 2034 World Cup, investing heavily in infrastructure to host the prestigious event. But the public’s fascination with futuristic, AI-generated designs like the “Sky Stadium” shows the growing influence of artificial intelligence on global perceptions. Despite the mix-up, the real plans for the 2034 World Cup are still to be revealed.