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.
More than one million Muslim pilgrims began the annual Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca on Wednesday, with Saudi authorities stepping up safety measures after last year’s tragedy, when over 1,300 people died due to extreme heat.
Here is a look at the hajj, one of the largest mass gatherings in the world, which starts in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday.
More than a million Muslims have converged on Mecca for the annual Hajj pilgrimage, with Saudi authorities promising a safer experience this year through enhanced heat-mitigation strategies and stricter control of unauthorized pilgrims.
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