World soccer governing body FIFA has signed a partnership with oil and gas conglomerate Saudi Aramco that will run through to the end of 2027, it said in a statement on Thursday.
FIFA Headquarter in Zurich, Switzerland © Mena Today
World soccer governing body FIFA has signed a partnership with oil and gas conglomerate Saudi Aramco that will run through to the end of 2027, it said in a statement on Thursday.
The four-year deal will see Aramco become a worldwide partner of FIFA, including in major tournaments such as the World Cup 2026 and the Women's World Cup 2027.
"This partnership will assist FIFA to successfully deliver its flagship tournaments... enable us to provide enhanced support to our 211 FIFA member associations across the globe," FIFA president Gianni Infantino said in the statement.
Saudi Arabia has been pouring billions into sports worldwide such as golf, football, motorsports and martial arts. Sport is one of the pillars of the government's Vision 2030 economic diversification plan that seeks to build new industries and create jobs. Some critics have called it an effort to distract from its human rights record.
Turkish authorities have issued arrest warrants for 46 individuals, including 29 professional footballers, as part of a widening investigation into illegal betting on football matches, the Istanbul prosecutor’s office announced on Friday.
Saudi Arabia approved its 2026 national budget on Tuesday, projecting a deficit of 44.1 billion dollars, as the Kingdom continues to invest heavily in its long-term economic transformation and reduce its dependence on oil revenues.
Saudi Arabia’s push to turn mining into a pillar of its post-oil economy got a major boost this week after a leading local operator reported the discovery of around 11 million tonnes of high-potential mineral resources in the kingdom’s southwest.
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