(Photo: AP)
Saudi Arabia pulled off one of the biggest shocks in World Cup history when they defeated the mighty Argentina in Qatar four years ago. That spectacular victory over Lionel Messi and the eventual champions was just the beginning of their campaign to transform football. Perhaps no other nation has done more to revolutionize the world's most popular sport than Saudi Arabia.
Within weeks, Cristiano Ronaldo became the first in a series of superstars to leave Europe for the Saudi Arabian league, with the five-time Ballon d'Or winner declaring: "My work in Europe is done. This is a new challenge."
Karim Benzema was signed from Real Madrid. Brazilian football icon Neymar also moved to this oil-rich kingdom. Although attempts to sign Messi and Kylian Mbappe were unsuccessful, Saudi Arabia achieved the biggest victory: the right to host the 2034 World Cup.
All of this is part of the nation's effort to shift away from its heavy reliance on oil and explore other revenue-generating sectors. Some critics argue that this is also an attempt to "whitewash" its image through sports, using sport to refresh its public perception of human rights issues and the suppression of dissent.
Billions of dollars have been spent to secure the right to host world championships such as boxing, Formula 1 racing, and tennis. LIV Golf, backed by Saudi Arabia, has lured major champions away from the PGA. They recently announced they would withdraw their investment from the project, but their commitment to football remains strong. Several of their top teams are owned by the national investment fund.
World Cup 2026 Expectations
This year's tournament will be a test of how far the Saudi Arabian national team has progressed amidst such massive spending. Newly appointed coach Georgios Donis stated: "We can't promise miracles, but we promise to give our all to achieve our goals."
Saudi Arabia's head coach, Georgios Donis, during the first half of an international friendly match between Saudi Arabia and Puerto Rico on June 5 in Austin, Texas. (Photo: AP/Darren Abate)
Having a wealth of top foreign talent doesn't necessarily translate into improved performance by domestic players on the international stage. An early exit from the 2024 Asian Cup in the round of 16 was disappointing. Saudi Arabia's most memorable contribution to that tournament — just over 12 months after their historic victory over Argentina — was Italian coach Roberto Mancini abandoning a penalty shootout against South Korea. A few months later, Mancini lost his job.
French coach Herve Renard, who led the team in Qatar in 2022, took over and the team quickly qualified for this year's tournament. But in April, less than two months before Saudi Arabia began their World Cup campaign, Renard was replaced by Greek coach Donis.
The belated arrival of a new coach.
Donis has managed several teams in the Saudi Arabian national league and has also worked with a number of players who will participate in the World Cup. Among them is striker Feras Al Buraikan, who won the AFC Champions League twice in a row with Al-Ahli.
His appointment at such a short time appears to be based on his knowledge and expertise in Saudi Arabian football. The Saudi Arabian Football Federation said he is "expected to support a smooth transition."
"Our advantage is that I spent many years in Saudi Arabia and I understand the country's culture as well as the players. Therefore, we want to compete strongly and fight our hardest," Donis said when announcing the squad last month.
Developing local players
While the recruitment of foreign stars has slowed down, with many big names leaving – including Neymar – Saudi Arabia's football governing body has taken steps to develop domestic players. In May, Matt Crocker was brought in from his position as sporting director of the US Soccer Federation to lead talent development in Saudi Arabia.
Investment in youth football has doubled in the last three years to $26.7 million, with the expansion of regional training centers, all geared towards the 2034 World Cup on home soil. Against all backdrop is this year's tournament and the chance to surprise the world once again.
"I believe all the players have the ability and enthusiasm necessary to give their all to our plan, which will help us gradually build a strong and united team," said Donis. "I have faith in their abilities, so my priority now is to help them believe in themselves, believe in the plan, and understand what needs to be done."
Source: https://vtv.vn/saudi-arabia-da-chi-hang-ty-usd-de-thay-doi-bong-da-100260609111018982.htm
