Saudi Arabia's great soccer experiment is paying off at Club World Cup
Published on Wednesday, 2 July 2025 at 3:31 am
The ambitious Saudi Arabian soccer experiment is currently on compelling display at the Club World Cup, showcasing the oil-rich kingdom’s multi-billion dollar commitment to becoming a dominant force in the world’s most popular sport. A significant moment arrived when Al Hilal, one of the nation's premier clubs, stunned English powerhouse Manchester City with a 4-3 victory, securing their passage to the quarterfinals. This result was nothing short of seismic in soccer terms, arguably the tournament's biggest upset and precisely the kind of statement Saudi Arabia has sought to make since embarking on a project that will culminate in hosting the FIFA World Cup in 2034. Defender Kalidou Koulibaly, one of many star players lured from Europe's top leagues with lucrative contracts, affirmed that Al Hilal aimed to demonstrate its talent and power on this global stage.
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The influx of superstar talent has been central to this strategy. Cristiano Ronaldo's groundbreaking move to Al Nassr in 2022reportedly for up to $200 million a yearignited a spectacular recruitment drive backed by the kingdom’s sovereign wealth fund. This saw luminaries like Neymar
Source: nbcbayarea
