Saudi Arabia in talks to participate in the CONCACAF Gold Cup 2025
Saudi Arabia's national football team is discussing with CONCACAF to get a place in the CONCACAF Gold Cup 2025. The upcoming Gold Cup edition in 2025 is set to be held in the United States and Canada.
Saudi Arabia's national football team is in an ongoing discussion with the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) to participate in the CONCACAF Gold Cup 2025.
The tournament will be hosted by the United States and Canada from June 14 to July 6, 2025, with 16 teams competing. The official lineup and the schedule for the Gold Cup will be unveiled in March, and now there is growing speculation that Saudi Arabia could be one of the 16 nations participating in the tournament.
The scenario
There is a behind-the-scene instance that has strengthened the possibility of Saudi Arabia's participation in the tournament. CONCACAF inked a multi-year deal with the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF) in August 2024. This investment has led to a better correlation between the Saudi Government and CONCACAF, the governing body that oversees football operations around North America, Central America, and Caribbean territories.
Victor Montagliani, CONCACAF President. (Image Credit | ESPN)
CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani stated the deal to be a "strategic partnership which will support the confederation in developing all levels of football across our region." at that time. Montagliani played a crucial role in securing Canada's position as a co-host for the 2026 FIFA Men's World Cup as well.
However, another business deal heavily benefitted the footballing operations of CONCACAF. Aramco, one of the world’s largest oil companies, which is owned majorly by the Saudi government, became one of the official principal sponsors of the CONCACAF Gold Cup 2025.
Aramco has also solidified its ties with CONCACAF by becoming the official energy partner for CONCACAF, enclosing all national teams and club competitions, including the clubs featuring in Liga MX and Major League Soccer.
However, CONCACAF and the Saudi Arabian Football Federation have not issued any official statement so far.
The venues and scheduling conflicts
NRG Stadium in Houston will host the Gold Cup 2025 Final.
The newly-structured FIFA Club World Cup 2025 which is scheduled from June 15 to July 13, 2025, will primarily host its matches on the East Coast Stadiums. In contrast, most of the Gold Cup stadiums are situated on the West Coast.
The 2025 Gold Cup will start on June 14 and conclude with the final match on July 6, 2025, at the NRG Stadium in Houston. 13 of the tournament's venues are located in the U.S., while BC Place in Vancouver is the only venue in Canada.
This will bring a diversion and also a probable conflict between these two grand football events but the fans from both regions will surely enjoy the games. However, it will be crucial for the players to opt between their national duty and the glamour of the expanded celebration of club football.
Previous teams that were invited to participate
Qatar participated in the 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
If confirmed, SaudiArabia will not be the first Asian team to participate in the Gold Cup, as another Asian football powerhouse Qatar took part in the 2023 and 2021 editions. Here is the list of invited teams in the previous editions of the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
The USA and Canada have already qualified as hosts, while Mexico has secured their place as the current champions.
Every Premier League player who went to play for Saudi Pro League clubs
John Duran is the latest inclusion in the Saudi Pro League after leaving the Premier League, as he joined Al-Nassr from Aston Villa. In this article, Sportz Point explores Every Premier League player who went to play for Saudi Pro League clubs.
Duran, who has scored 10 goals for Aston Villa across the Premier League and UCL this season, has signed a gigantic five-year contract with the Cristiano Ronaldo-led club.
The Colombian youngster is the latest inclusion to follow the footsteps of former Premier Leaguefootballers who left the top division of English football to explore new opportunities in Saudi Arabia.
In this article, Sportz Point assesses every Premier League player who went to play for various Saudi Pro League clubs.
1. N'Golo Kante - Chelsea to Al-Ittihad (2023)
N'Golo Kanteis the foremost renowned footballer who left the Premier League to join the Saudi Pro League, bringing a revolution in the business for Saudi Pro League clubs.
The French World Cup winner and always a fan-favourite, left Chelsea in July 2023 to join Al-Ittihad on a free transfer. Kante received a 3-year contract at the Saudi club, where he reportedly earns a whopping €100 million per year.
The 33-year-old midfielder is currently playing for Al-Ittihad, and his contract runs until June 2026.
In July 2023, Kalidou Koulibaly signed for the current Saudi Champions Al-Hilal for an undisclosed fee, reportedly worth €23 million. The Senegal international spent only one year in Chelsea, where he joined in 2022 from the Italian side Napoli.
The 33-year-old defender is currently donning the Al-Hilal shirt, where he is on a contract until June 2026.
3. Edouard Mendy - Chelsea to Al-Ahli (2023)
Edouard Mendy will always be a legend for Chelsea fans for his towering performance as the goalkeeper in Chelsea's UCL-winning campaign in 2020-21.
However, in a shocking move in July 2023, the Senegal international joined Al-Ahli for a reported fee of €19 million. The 32-year-old goalkeeper is on a three-year contract with Al-Ahli, expiring in June 2026.
4. Demarai Gray - Everton to Al-Ettifaq (2023)
Demarai Gray signed for Al-Ettifaq on the deadline day of the transfer window in Saudi Arabia, on September 7th, 2023.
However, the Jamaican international penned down a four-year contract with the Saudi outfit, keeping him at the club until June of 2027.
5. Aleksandar Mitrovic - Fulham to Al-Hilal (2023)
Aleksandar Mitrovic has proved himself as arguably the best overseas signing the Saudi Pro League has made since the door opened in 2023. The Serbian forward signed for Al-Hilal in August 2023. He left Fulham, where he had a dream season in 2022-23, scoring 14 goals in just 24 PL appearances.
However, Al-Hilal paid a reported fee of €52 million to sign Mitrovic from Fulham. Since arriving in Saudi, the 30-year-old striker has netted 60 goals and provided 11 assists in 67 appearances for Al-Hilal, leading the club to the Saudi Arabian League title in 2023-24 and various other accolades.
6. Ezgjan Alioski - Leeds to Al-Ahli (2021)
Although Kante is the PL footballer who had drawn significant attention from Saudi Clubs, it was Ezgjan Alioski who first joined Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli in 2021, leaving Leeds Unitedon a free transfer.
However, the Macedonian left-back was loaned to Fenerbahce only after a year, and he spent a one-year loan stint at the Turkish side before permanently returning to Al-Ahli in June 2023. Alioski is in the last year of his contract, as the agreement expires in June 2025.
7. Fabinho - Liverpool to Al-Ittihad (2023)
Fabinho joined Al-Ittihad in July 2023 for a transfer fee of almost €47 million, leaving his former club Liverpool.
The former Liverpool captain spent a long 5-year spell at Liverpool, winning almost everything with the Merseyside club. The Brazilian defensive midfielder is currently on a three-year contract with Al-Ittihad, binding him to the club until June 2026.
8. Roberto Firmino - Liverpool to Al-Ahli (2023)
Roberto Firmino, another cult hero of Liverpool, left the club in July 2023 to sign for Al-Ahli Saudi on a free transfer after his contract expired at the end of the 2022-23 season.
Firmino played for Liverpool from 2015 to 2023, making him a legend for the Premier League club, where he won almost everything, scoring 111 goals in 362 games.
The 33-year-old Brazilian is on a three-year deal with the Saudi club, expiring on June 2026.
9. Jordan Henderson - Liverpool to Al-Ettifaq (2023)
(Image Credit | Getty Images)
The case ofJordan Henderson is a unique instance, as he spent only 6 months in Saudi. The former Liverpool skipper moved to Al-Ettifaq after a €14 million transfer in July 2023, penning a three-year deal with the Saudi side.
However, things did not go well with the England international as he failed to adjust to the Saudi Arabian climate and also had family reasons. Henderson left Al-Ettifaq in January 2024 as he returned to Europe to play for Ajax Amsterdam.
Henderson currently captains the Dutch side, where his contract runs until June 2026.
10. Aymeric Laporte - Man City to Al-Nassr (2023)
(Image Credit | ESPN)
Aymeric Laporte left Manchester Cityto join Al-Nassr in July 2023 after the Saudi side paid almost €28 million in transfer fees.
The dynamic Spanish center-back was handed a three-year contract with the Saudi club, which runs until June 2026. Although he has not moved to any other club, he has recently been linked to a move to the Spanish giants, Real Madrid.
11. Riyad Mahrez - Man City to Al-Ahli (2023)
Riyad Mahrez has always been a silent cornerstone for Manchester City's success in recent years under Pep Guardiola. Mahrez also played a significant part in the iconic Premier League-winning campaign of Leicester City in 2016.
However, the Algerian left City in July 2023 on a €35 million transfer to join Al-Ahli in the Saudi Pro League. The 33-year-old winger was handed a four-year contract that runs until June 2027.
12. Alex Telles - Man United to Al-Nassr (2023)
Alex Telles joined his national teammate Cristiano Ronaldo at Al-Nassr after joining the Saudi side on a €4.6 million transfer. Telles left Manchester United to start anew in the Middle East.
However, his stint at Al-Nassr was full of obstacles, as only after a year, the Portuguese full-back terminated his contract by mutual agreement and joined the Brazilian side Botafogo on a free transfer in September 2024.
13. Allan Saint-Maximin - Newcastle to Al-Ahli (2023)
Allan Saint-Maximin emerged as one of the best forwards in the Premier League, before making a shocking move to Al-Ahli from Newcastle United for a transfer fee worth almost €28 million.
However, Maximin is now playing for Fenerbahce after being loaned out in July 2024, although he has a contract with Al-Ahli until June 2026.
14. Ruben Neves - Wolves to Al-Hilal (2023)
Ruben Neves etched his name in the history of Wolverhampton Wanderers; playing for the English side for almost seven years.
The Portuguese defensive midfielder left his beloved Wolves to join Al-Hilal in July 2023 on a huge €55 million transfer. Neves is contracted with Al-Hilal until June 2026.
15. Moussa Diaby - Aston Villa to Al-Ittihad (2024)
(Image Credit | transfermarkt)
Moussa Diaby proved himself as one of the best emerging talents in world football but he unexpectedly signed for Al-Ittihad in July 2024, leaving Aston Villa on a huge €60 million transfer.
The 25-year-old French midfielder also played for renowned European clubs such as Paris Saint-Germain and a significant four-year spell at Bayer Leverkusen.
16. Ivan Toney - Brentford to Al-Ahli (2024)
(Image Credit | talkSport)
Ivan Toney entered the England national team following his masterful performance with Brentford in the Premier League. However, he left the English side in August 2024, as Al-ahli paid a transfer fee of €42 million for the English forward.
The 28-year-old forward is currently playing for Al-Ahli where he is on a mega contract that runs until June 2028.
17. Johann Berg Gudmundsson - Burnley to Al-Orobah (2024)
Johann Berg Gudmundsson played an integral part in Burnley's promotion to the Premier League for the 2023-24 season. However, the Iceland international moved to Al-Orobah in August 2024 for an undisclosed fee.
The 34-year-old winger is in the last year of his contract with Al-Orobah as it ends in June 2025.
18. Marek Rodak - Fulham to Al-Ettifaq (2024)
(Image Source | X)
Marek Rodak, the Slovak international, left Fulham to join Al-Ettifaq on a free transfer in August 2024.
The 28-year-old goalkeeper is on a contract until June 2027.
19. Joao Cancelo - Man City to Al-Hilal (2024)
Joao Cancelo spent a tumultuous year in 2023, as he spent two different loan spells in Bayern Munich and FC Barcelona. However, Barcelona failed to trigger his release clause in August 2024 as Manchester City sold the Portuguese international to Al-Hilal on a modest €25 million transfer.
The 30-year-old fullback signed a three-year contract that runs until June 2027.
20. Kurt Zouma - West Ham to Al-Orobah (2024)
Kurt Zouma left West Ham United in August 2024 after spending almost three years at the English side, as he was loaned to Al-Orobah for a year. The French defender's loan ends in June 2025.
21. Jhon Duran - Aston Villa to Al-Nassr (2025)
(Image Credit | Sportbible)
Jhon Duran is the latest Premier League footballer to leave top-tier English football to join Saudi Pro League.
Al-Nassr has signed the Colombian youngster from Aston Villa for a huge €77 transfer fee including the add-ons. The 21-year-old striker, who signed a mega five-year contract, will stay at Al-Nassr until June 2030.
Saudi Pro Leaguegains another former football icon to work in Saudi Arabia as Pavel Nedved, the 2003Ballon d'Or winner has signed for Al-Shabab FC as the new Sporting Director of the club.
The Czechia and Juventus legend is set to take the helm at Al-Shabab from 9 January 2025.
“Pavel Nedved”, the Ballon d’Or legend, writes a new chapter with #AlShabab
The club announced his appointment via a social media post that reads: "Czech legend Pavel Nedved appointed Sporting Director of Al Shabab."
Nedved set to bring his administration experiences to Saudi
(Image Credit | Al-Shabab FC)
Considered one of the greatest Czech footballers of all time, Pavel Nedved etched his name in history books while playing for Juventus and Lazio. After joining Lazio in 1996, Nedved won 7 trophies before joining Juventus in 2001.
His 9-year-long and illustrious career with Juventus also earned him 5 silverware, and most remarkably, Nedved won the 2003 Ballon d'Or while playing for the Turin club with 65 goals and 81 assists to his name.
However, after retiring in 2009, Nedved started his chapter in football administration as he joined the Juventus Board of Directors in October 2010. Since October 2015, Nedved served as the club's vice president before leaving the position in November 2022.
Al-Shabab has made a significant move in signing Nedved, as they eye for youth football development and a revamped footballing structure at the club. The newly-appointed Turkish coach Fetih Tarim will also combine with Nedved to bring the coveted glory to the club.
Currently dwelling in sixth place in the Saudi Pro League table, the club has adopted an ambitious approach to compete with the echelons of the Saudi Arabian football arena.
T20 International cricket saw many unfamiliar names emerge as the breakout stars across the year. The T20I batting charts have been mostly dominated by these players who have represented their nation on the international stages.
In this special article, Sportz Point aims to delve into those cricketers who have accumulated the most T20I runs in 2024.
Australian footballers union slams FIFA for awarding the 2034 World Cup to Saudi Arabia
Australian footballers union has condemned FIFA's decision to award the 2034 World Cup to Saudi Arabia, stating the significant human rights issues that are at risk.
The Australian Professional Footballers Union has slammed FIFA after the governing body awarded 2034 World Cup hosting rights to Saudi Arabia following the conclusion of the FIFA Congress on 11 December 2024.
The Union did not welcome the decision and mentioned the severe human rights issues that are at risk in the Gulf nation. They also questioned FIFA's ability and readiness to prevent the continuation of human rights violations in Saudi Arabia.
The official statement
Professional Footballers Australia head Beau Busch stated the following in an email to Reuters:
The significant human rights risks linked to this tournament are well-documented,
By securing hosting rights to the global game’s most prestigious event, Saudi Arabia and FIFA must ensure the rights of everyone affected by the 2034 Men’s World Cup are upheld and safeguarded.
However, FIFA’s ongoing governance failures and lack of accountability to its own human rights commitments leave no assurance that harm can or will be prevented.
The awarding of the 2034 FIFA World Cup hosting rights to Saudi Arabia has sparked controversy in a never-seen manner, as human rights activists, including the Australian Association and LGBTQ activists, have all expressed concerns over Saudi Arabia's human rights records.
Additionally, migrant worker groups and trade unions have also raised alarms about the potential exploitation of workers in the World Cup after the issues that were raised years before the Qatar World Cup commenced in 2022. According to Reuters, Saudi Arabia has denied accusations of human rights abuses and said that it protects its national security through its laws.
This is not the first time that people related to Australian football have been vocal critics of human rights issues around the globe. Australian national men's football team released a video message condemning Qatar's record on human rights and LGBTQ+ rights ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Football Australia, the governing body of Australian football, supported the players' stance and later objected to Saudi Arabia's sponsorship of the 2023 Women's World Cup, citing concerns over the kingdom's human rights record.
However, after Qatar in 2022, another World Cup in West Asia will disrupt the traditional football calendar just like it did in 2022. Saudi will supposedly host the World Cup in November-December of 2034 which will significantly affect the footballers. Qatar hosted 32 teams for the 2022 World Cup, but Saudi will host 48 teams as the grand event will need a more expanded and flexible timeframe to organize.
Karim Benzema has become the official ambassador for Saudi Arabia's official bid to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup. Benzema expressed his confidence in the competence of Saudi Arabia to host the FIFA World Cup in 2034 during a recent meeting with young footballers in Jeddah.
Saudi Arabia strengthens its position through the collaboration
Karim Benzema signed for Al-Ittihad in 2023 as one of the most prominent faces of world football to feature in the Saudi Pro League. Many promising footballers have joined the Saudi Pro League in recent years to elevate their footballing careers. Saudi Arabian Football Federation has shown greater aspirations by submitting an official bid to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup. Following Australia's withdrawal, which was Saudi's only contender in the bidding process, Saudi Arabia is now in the pole position to win the hosting rights for the biggest event of football in 2034. Saudi Arabian Football Federation has tied knots with the French icon to strengthen their position in the premises of world football.
The 36-year-old forward announced his appointment as the ambassador during a visit to Al-Balad. He stated:
I believe Saudi football is changing. I think that in 10 years, Saudi Arabia will be ready. I believe that visitors will be surprised by the passion of Saudi fans at every match,
Recent controversies regarding human rights abuses in Saudi Arabia have struck the football environment, as human rights activists have also expressed their concern about FIFA's decision. However, Benzema conveyed his personal views regarding the criticisms.
People who have preconceived notions about Saudi Arabia should come and see for themselves. There are incredible things and iconic places. The people are welcoming. You feel good here. It's a country worth exploring. There is so much to do. It's not just about the desert, even though there are incredible experiences to be had in the desert as well. You must come and visit Saudi Arabia.
Benzema addressed the importance of grassroots developments in football
The French icon recently met the trainees from the Saudi Football Federation’s regional training centers in Jeddah and offered his understanding to develop a better environment for football in the region. Benzema said:
Saudi football is developing, and I am confident that after 10 years Saudi Arabia will be fully prepared (for the World Cup).
Training and development begin with the young players, and this is the most important thing — creating a generation that can reach the highest level.
An official statement by FIFA to confirm Saudi Arabia as the host nation for the 2034 FIFA World Cup may arrive this month after the FIFA Congress on 11 December 2024.
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