\n
F<\/span>IFA president Gianni Infantino has publicly backed Cristiano Ronaldo’s statements regarding the growth of the Saudi Professional League, reinforcing the idea that Saudi football has undergone major changes since the Portuguese’s arrival at the end of 2022.<\/p>\nFor Infantino, the Al Nasr striker’s influence is not just on the sporting side, but also on the championship’s global standing, which has become an attractive stage for fans, sponsors and international stars from surrounding leagues.<\/p>\n
\n
\nCristiano Ronaldo scores a shocking goal with his back<\/span><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nGrowth of the Saudi Professional League since the arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo<\/h2>\n Since Ronaldo arrived in Saudi Arabia, the local competition has taken a remarkable leap forward in media and competitiveness. The Portuguese not only defended the level of the tournament, but even said that it surpassed European leagues such as the French and Portuguese championships.<\/p>\n
His words were controversial and widely discussed. But Infantino largely agreed with that view, noting that Saudi Arabia “has become an important hub on the world football stage” and that the Saudi Professional League is “on track to become one of the top three leagues on the planet.”<\/p>\n
Saudi Arabia and the 2034 World Cup as a backup for the soccer project<\/h2>\n Institutional support for this growth is reflected in Saudi Arabia’s approval as host of the 2034 World Cup, following its independent candidacy to FIFA. Infantino described the country as an ideal host location, highlighting its organizational capabilities, new football culture and strategic interests in continuing to expand the sport into new regions.<\/p>\n
The coach also stressed that thanks to the emergence of Neymar and other stars who followed in the path laid out by Cristiano, the Saudi league is no longer just a regional competition, but a “domestic league with a global feel”.<\/p>\n
Saudi national team and sports challenges towards 2026<\/h2>\n Infantino also mentioned Saudi Arabia’s participation in the upcoming 2026 World Cup, where they will join Spain, Uruguay and Cape Verde in Group H. Although the challenge is high, the FIFA president did not rule out surprises such as a historic victory between Saudi Arabia and Argentina in Qatar 2022. For him, the process Saudi football is undergoing is more than an investment: it is a comprehensive project that seeks true competitiveness, international prestige and continuity in the sport.<\/p>\n
With FIFA’s support, Cristiano Ronaldo’s media backing, and expectations for the 2034 World Cup, Saudi Arabia appears determined to establish itself as the new world soccer power.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"FIFA president Gianni Infantino has publicly backed Cristiano Ronaldo’s statements regarding the growth of the Saudi Professional League, reinforcing the idea that Saudi football has undergone major changes since the Portuguese’s arrival at the end of 2022. For Infantino, the Al Nasr striker’s influence is not just on the sporting side, but also on the<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":19048,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[26],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-19047","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-latest"},"yoast_head":"\n
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