Standing on the verge of hosting the World Cup is an undeniable win for oil power Saudi Arabia as it pushes to reshape its economy and shake off its questionable image, analysts say. It wasn’t long ago that the desert monarchy was shunned by Western leaders after the 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi by […]
Haitham El-Tabei
Posted inSoccer America Daily
Saudi Pro League kicks off, hoping world is watching
The Saudi Pro League kicks off on Friday amid unprecedented attention on Saudi soccer following a year of high-profile transfers and growing accusations of “sportswashing.” Clubs in the oil-rich Gulf state have lured global stars, with Karim Benzema, Jordan Henderson and Sadio Mane among those following in Cristiano Ronaldo‘s footsteps. Last month Al-Hilal made a […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily
After missing out on Messi, Saudis give Benzema gala welcome
Former Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema was unveiled as an Al-Ittihad player in front of thousands of fans in Saudi Arabia on Thursday, a day after the oil-rich kingdom just failed to reel in Lionel Messi. Fireworks and flame-throwers greeted Benzema, wearing their black and yellow kit with the No. 9, at Al-Ittihad’s 60,000-seat stadium in […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily
No swag, but Ronaldo puts swagger in Saudi soccer
Cristiano Ronaldo‘s first season in Saudi Arabia ended with a whimper, but with hundreds of millions in wages and unprecedented attention on Saudi soccer he may not be the last megastar to grace the oil-rich kingdom. The fireworks and euphoria that greeted Ronaldo’s gala unveiling in January were in sharp contrast to the close of […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Cristiano Ronaldo's Saudi experience: What he can expect
After lighting up soccer’s biggest stages, Cristiano Ronaldo faces a very different reality in Saudi Arabia with smaller stadiums and less exalted teams — and some very high temperatures. Ronaldo, 37, says he’s embracing the “challenge” of the Saudi Pro League, a step into the unknown for a player who is more used to Real […]