The Saudi Arabian Football League is set to receive a boost in government funding as part of a privatization project that encourages public sector organizations to invest in sports. The sovereign wealth Public Investment Fund (PIF) has taken a majority ownership stake in four top clubs -- Al Nassr, Al Ittihad, Al Ahli, and Al Hilal, the Asian Champions League winner in 2019 and 2021. This move increases the involvement of the government in the country's soccer league to elevate it to among the top 10 leagues in the world.
The PIF already owns the English Premier League club, Newcastle, and manages over $600 billion of the oil-rich kingdom’s assets. While European clubs have to abide by UEFA's rules on spending, Saudi clubs are not bound by these regulations, meaning there is no limit to the salaries the PIF can offer to attract top players to the Middle East.
The transfer of the four clubs is expected to bring in various commercial opportunities, including investment, partnership, and sponsorships across numerous sports. This initiative is part of the Vision 2030 national development policy promoted by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), who is also prime minister of the kingdom.
The national football league's ambitions to become a major force in world soccer were made clear when Cristiano Ronaldo joined Al Nassr in January for a reported salary of $200 million a year, after he fell out of favor at Manchester United. His former teammate at Real Madrid, Karim Benzema, is expected to join him in the Saudi league soon.
The Saudi league has players from over 40 different countries, and attendances have increased by nearly 150% in the last year. The privatization and ownership transfer of clubs aim to accelerate progress in various sports across the kingdom, further growing participation, providing cutting edge facilities, increasing competition, and nurturing future champions.
With the ongoing push to attract the world's best soccer players, including Lionel Messi, who recently played his last game for Paris Saint-Germain, Saudi Arabia is hoping to host or co-host the men's World Cup in 2030 or 2034, with rumors of strong ties between Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and FIFA president Gianni Infantino in recent years.
In recent times, Saudi Arabia's homegrown players have also excelled. The national team stunned Messi and Argentina with a 2-1 victory in their opening game at the World Cup in Qatar in November, and the Al-Hilal club won the Asian Champions League title in 2019 and 2021.