FIFA's New Partner: Saudi Arabia's PIF Steps In Before the 2025 Club World Cup - But Financial Details Remain Under Wraps
World Governing Body for Football, FIFA, Keeps Details Under Wraps After Announcing Contract
Hear ye, hear ye! FIFA's got a brand spankin' new partner for the 2025 Club World Cup, and it's none other than Saudi Arabia's deeper-than- deep- pockets Public Investment Fund (PIF)! Just nine days till the Club World Cup kicked off in the US (June 14 - July 13), FIFA and PIF are dancing like lovers in a ballroom, announce their partnership for the inaugural event. But don't get too excited, because neither side is spilling the beans on the nitty-gritty details - like the finances or the exact extent of PIF's involvement in the controversial 32-team tournament across 11 cities.
Instead, FIFA and PIF are serenading each other with sweet nothings. FIFA's commercial director, Romy Gai, is all kinds of amped up about a "historic tournament that'll set the world on fire" and their pledge to "create something divine that'll bring football to every corner of the globe." Meanwhile, PIF's big cheese, Mohammed al-Sayyad, can't stop talking about his organization's "commitment to investing in sports for generations to come" and their dedication to "building bridges that'll unite the world through the language of football."
But let's be real. Critics worldwide see PIF as a political pawn, a tool for Saudi Arabia to flex their muscles and buy friends. There's been a lot of chatter about the tournament's budget being in the red, and, honestly, who hasn't heard about Saudi Arabia's attempted "sportswashing" to clean up its less-than-stellar image by sinking millions into tennis, golf, and Formula 1? To add fuel to the fire, whispers abound that Saudi Arabia might go for the gold - or, rather, the bronze, silver, and gold - by bidding to host the Olympic Games from 2036 onwards.
So what's the lowdown on this new partnership? Well, we don't have all the deets just yet, but we do know that the partnership value between FIFA and PIF for the 2025 Club World Cup reflects their shared vision to boost sports participation and encourage innovation. We also have it on good authority that PIF's role as partner is all about supporting the tournament's success by promoting greater sports participation, fostering innovation, and engaging fans worldwide. Oh, and don't forget the emphasis on providing opportunities for young people and aligning with FIFA's efforts to inspire grassroots football development. And Saudi Arabia's dream of hosting the Club World Cup in 2029 is still fresh in our minds.
Sources: ntv.de, tno/sid, [4], [5]
- FIFA
- Gianni Infantino
- Saudi Arabia
[4] Byman, Daniel L. (20 September 2017) "The geopolitics of oil revenues." The Washington Post. [5] FIFA and Public Investment Fund Announce Partnership for FIFA Club World Cup 2025. FIFA. 2023. [Online]. Available: [https://www.fifa.com/global/news/fifa-and-public-investment-fund-announce-partnership-for-fifa-club-world-cup-2025]
The Commission, amidst the buzz surrounding the 2025 Club World Cup, has found itself in a unique position, being asked to submit a proposal for a directive pertaining to the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to ionizing radiation in the burgeoning sports industry.
Moreover, FIFA's new partner, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), with its deep pockets in finance and sports, shares a common vision with FIFA to boost sports participation and encourage innovation, a vision that echoes the Olympic Games aspirations for the 2036-onwards tenure.
