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Published Wednesday October 23, 2024 at 10:30 In: Saudi Arabia.
By Mehdi Lunay
Attracting several big football stars is not enough for Saudi Arabia. The Kingdom wants the best competitions on its soil: the World Cup, of course, in 2034, but also the UEFA Champions League.
Now, here’s a question: can Saudi Arabia possibly have a championship that rivals the big European leagues? They’ve been on a talent spree for the past two years, signing major stars like Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Karim Benzema, Sadio Mané, and even the midfield maestro N’Golo Kanté. But sadly, despite their loaded rosters, the ratings of the Saudi Pro League haven’t skyrocketed into the stratosphere. It turns out that just having a squad full of superstars isn’t the magical elixir for drawing in European viewers. They’ve found that watching Al-Nassr play Al-Ittihad is about as riveting as watching paint dry. What they really need to spice things up? More matches against European clubs, naturally!
The Saudis in C1 thanks to Kazakhstan?
Now, here’s where it gets interesting. The upcoming FIFA Club World Cup won’t do much to help the Saudi cause since only one local team, Al-Hilal, made the cut with their shiny new stars like Neymar and Joao Cancelo. So, what’s the solution? Gaining a ticket into the prestigious Champions League. You know, that mysterious competition that supposedly only European clubs can play in. Well, that’s UEFA’s line, and they’ve been reciting it like a mantra to keep Saudi teams at bay.
But wait! Enter the clever minds from the Kingdom, who aren’t easily deterred. They’ve noticed something amusing—Kazakhstan! Yes, Kazakhstan. That landlocked country hanging out in Central Asia has been sneaking into European competitions for years, all because of some geographical quirk at the Ural Mountains. If Kazakhstan can get in with their ‘European-ness’ based solely on geography, what’s stopping Saudi Arabia?
Saudi Arabia insists on reaching an agreement with UEFA to put its clubs in the Champions League https://t.co/NmTnHKWXML
— okdiario.com (@okdiario) October 22, 2024
So why not? The Saudis are pushing hard behind the scenes, making their best case to UEFA. And let’s be honest, when you’re an economic heavyweight in the game, who knows? UEFA might start reconsidering, especially when you see rugby letting South Africa crash into their European competitions.
In conclusion, it’s a wild world we live in when geographical boundaries can swing open for some while remaining firmly shut for others. Will UEFA give in to the mighty Saudi dollars? Nothing is impossible, especially in football! In the meantime, the rest of us can sit back and enjoy the spectacle of it all—just make sure to keep the popcorn handy!
Icon Sport
Published Wednesday October 23, 2024 at 10:30 In: Saudi Arabia.
Par Mehdi Lunay
Attracting several big football stars is not enough for Saudi Arabia. The Kingdom wants the best competitions on its soil: the World Cup of course in 2034 but also the UEFA Champions League.
Can Saudi Arabia have a championship as attractive as the big European leagues? For two years, she has spared no expense in bringing in the biggest football stars: Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Karim Benzema, Sadio Mané and even N’Golo Kanté. Unfortunately, this did not explode the ratings of the Saudi Pro League. Meetings between Saudi clubs do not sufficiently inspire European viewers despite well-endowed squads. We need more matches against clubs from the old continent.
The Saudis in C1 thanks to Kazakhstan?
It is not the next FIFA Club World Cup that will help the Kingdom. Indeed, only one local team is qualified for the tournament in 2025, Al-Hilal with Neymar, Joao Cancelo and Aleksandar Mitrovic. Only one solution remains to face the best teams: playing the Champions League. Something impossible in theory because Saudi Arabia is not a European country. A fact constantly recalled by UEFA to justify its refusal to welcome Saudi clubs in C1. However, this speech has a flaw and it was identified by Saudi Arabia according to information from the OK Diario media.
Saudi Arabia insists on reaching an agreement with UEFA to put its clubs in the Champions League https://t.co/NmTnHKWXML
— okdiario.com (@okdiario) October 22, 2024
The Saudis are taking refuge behind the case of Kazakhstan, a Central Asian country which has participated in European competitions for several years. Kazakhstanis are only linked to Europe through their borders since the European continent ends at the Ural Mountains which border Kazakhstan. Enough to give a glimmer of hope to the Saudis who are pushing hard behind the scenes to win their case. Will UEFA give in to them? Nothing is impossible with such an economic heavyweight, especially since rugby has opened the way by involving South Africa in its European competitions.
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