In 2025, the biggest story in sports isn’t about a single athlete, team, or league it’s about a nation. Saudi Arabia has rapidly emerged as one of the most influential players in the global sports world, making headlines with its bold investments, record-breaking deals, and undeniable ambition to become a global sports superpower. What began with isolated ventures has now become a full-scale transformation of the global sports landscape.
A Billion-Dollar Strategy
Saudi Arabia’s strategy is simple but effective spend big, build influence, and rebrand the country on the world stage. Backed by the Public Investment Fund (PIF), the kingdom has poured billions into acquiring clubs, hosting international tournaments, and creating new leagues.
One of the most talked-about moves was the merger of LIV Golf 이븐티비 with the PGA Tour, a groundbreaking deal that brought together traditional American golf with the controversial Saudi-funded rival league. The move shocked the sports world and highlighted Saudi Arabia’s ability to change the rules of the game literally.
In football, the Saudi Pro League has gone from being a domestic competition to a star-studded destination. With Cristiano Ronaldo leading the way in 2023, the league has since attracted stars like Karim Benzema, Neymar, N’Golo Kanté, and Mohamed Salah. Record salaries and tax-free contracts are turning Saudi clubs into serious contenders for global talent, challenging the dominance of European leagues.
Buying Influence Across Sports
Saudi Arabia’s influence doesn’t stop at football and golf. The country now owns a stake in Formula 1, is bidding to host the 2030 FIFA World Cup, and has invested heavily in boxing, tennis, and eSports.
The kingdom hosted the 이븐티비 2024 Boxing World Championship featuring Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk, and plans are underway to create a new annual boxing mega-event in Riyadh. In tennis, the newly formed “Riyadh Masters” now attracts top-ranked players with unmatched prize money.
A Global Controversy, Sportswashing?
While Saudi Arabia’s sports strategy is commercially successful, it’s also highly controversial. Critics accuse the kingdom of “sportswashing”using sports to improve its international image and distract from its human rights record. This criticism intensified after the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi and ongoing concerns over free speech, women’s rights, and LGBTQ+ rights in the kingdom.
Athletes, fans, and human rights groups are divided. Some argue that sports can be a force for change and modernization. Others see the influx of money as a way for the Saudi government to cover up its internal issues.
Tennis legend Martina Navratilova recently criticized the WTA for allowing a major tournament to be held in Riyadh, calling it a “betrayal of core values.” Meanwhile, fans of European football clubs acquired by Saudi investors worry about tradition and identity being sacrificed for cash.
A New Sports World Order?
Despite the backlash, Saudi Arabia’s influence continues to grow. In a world where money often determines outcomes, the country’s financial power is impossible to ignore. Major sports federations, facing financial pressures and competition, are more open than ever to Saudi investment.
And for many athletes, the decision is simple: massive salaries, state-of-the-art facilities, and a new fanbase make Saudi Arabia an attractive option.
In 2025, Saudi Arabia is not just hosting sports it’s shaping them. Whether it’s football, golf, boxing, or Formula 1, the kingdom’s investments are forcing the world to rethink what sports represent, who controls them, and where they’re headed.
