Why Saudi football investment is going to get bigger and bigger

It was about the end of 2022 and football’s most gifted minds were taking a break after discussing and analysing the Fifa World Cup and what could be the next glorious chapter for the beautiful game.

The Qatar spectacle had ticked all the boxes as it generated a huge level of interest all across the industry, more importantly, it demonstrated that the global game has never looked in better shape.

However, not far away in neighbouring Saudi Arabia an ingenious plot was being hatched with the aim of growing the game and creating a paradigm shift in world attention that would see football’s popularity soar even higher within the rapidly developing kingdom.

It all began with signing the effervescent Cristiano Ronaldo to the Saudi Pro League in 2023, which at the time created quantum ripples in football.

But it was just the start of an audacious scheme that would revolutionise football and forever change the game’s landscape in the Middle East and leave repercussions in Europe.

Seven months on Saudi Arabia, which had in recent months created a huge presence on the sporting scene by hosting high-profile F1 races, world title heavyweight boxing fights and establishing its revolutionary LIV Golf model, has become the epicentre of world football.

With high-profile signings of stars like Karim Benzema, N'Golo Kante and Sadio Mane following Ronaldo's stunning move from Manchester United to Al-Nassr, Saudi is positioning itself to enhance its football profile.

Since the seventies the standard of the Saudi game has authentically grown in leaps and bounds.

The national team, also known as the ‘Green Falcons’, have participated in six Fifa World Cups in 1994, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2018 and 2022.

Their most celebrated achievement was reaching the last sixteen in their debut year when the spectacle was held in the United States.

Having posted shock wins over Belgium and Morocco they progressed to the pre-quarterfinal where they came up against an inspired Sweden who ended their dream run.

After several stellar performances in subsequent World Cup Saudi authored one of their greatest upsets when they defeated eventual winners Argentina 2-1 in the opening game at Qatar to snap the South American powerhouse’s 36-game unbeaten run.

The Saudis also made incredible progress in club football even before the arrival of the superstars from Europe.

Saudi clubs don’t just have an impressive record in the Middle East but also in Asian competitions.

Al Hilal have won eight Asian titles including the prestigious AFC Champions League a record four times. They were also runner-up five times.

The country will also host the 2027 edition of the Asian Cup for the first time in its history.

Domestically Al Hilal have been a major force in the Saudi Pro League winning four titles between 2016 and 2022.

Against this rich history Saudi launched their bid to develop an elite pro league by luring some of football’s biggest names to their shores.

The Ronaldo transfer proved that anything was possible in a country that boasted a strong and positive economic outlook. Sustainability has never been a concern for Saudi as they showed when signing one great player after the other to embellish many of their 18 professional clubs.

While Ronaldo, 38, and Benzema, 35, are on the wrong side of 30s, other big names are still in their early 30s like former Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson and several stars that have joined from marquee clubs in Europe that include Chelsea, Man City and Bayern Munich.

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