One of the biggest transfers in Asian football history was finally completed earlier this month, as Cristiano Ronaldo signed his record-breaking deal with Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr. The Portuguese superstar joins a growing list of players that have played out their career in the country, and he could yet be joined by Lionel Messi if the latest reports are to be believed.
However, one of the reasons why the transfer was completed was down to the fact that Saudi Arabia are vying to host the World Cup in 2030.
Does Ronaldo’s Contract Include Promotion
There were conflicting reports this week regarding the extent of Ronaldo’s involvement in Saudi Arabia’s bid to host the World Cup in seven years time. Reports did state that the Portuguese superstar was offered an extra $214 million to help promote the nation ahead of the final decision being made, but this was rebuffed by Al Nassr, who claimed that the news was wide of the mark and Ronaldo’s signing is with purely footballing interests at heart.
Al Nassr have clarified their stance on the matter, as the club go in search of adding to the long list of accolades that Ronaldo has won throughout his career. The Saudi Arabian club currently sit at the top of the Saudi Pro League by three points, and there will be an expectation that they will extend that advantage once Ronaldo makes his debut for the team at the end of the month. Many leading sportsbooks, including www.arabic-casinos.org already see Al Nassr as the champions in waiting, according to the latest odds.
Saudi Serious About World Cup
Reports have been growing since Qatar’s success 2022 World Cup that Saudi officials will be making their move to host the competition in 2030. It has also been teased that the nation may also look to bring the Olympics to the country, in what could be magical ten-year period for those that live in the nation.
Reports surrounding Ronaldo’s involvement in the World Cup bid may have been short of the mark, but Lionel Messi is one star that is already behind the campaign to host the competition in the country. The Argentina captain signed a deal before the World Cup to promote the nation, and that’s where the hints began to come that Saudi Arabia will be looking to host the competition. However, it remains to be seen whether the World Cup will be heading to the nation.
Will The World Cup Come To Saudi Arabia?
No official bid to host the World Cup has yet been made by Saudi Arabian officials, which means everything at this moment is speculation. But, it would certainly make for a compelling case. However, whether FIFA will bring the competition make to the region just eight years after the last competition held in the region remains extremely unlikely.
Following Qatar’s hosting responsibilities, the World Cup next moves on to the joint bid in North America, which will see Canada, Mexico, and the United States host the biggest tournament in the history of the event in 2026. But, European nations will feel as though they will be due hosting responsibilities for the first time since 2018 in 2030, while South America hasn’t hosted the competition since 2014. An African bid may also yet materialise, as South Africa hosted an excellent edition in 2010.
Who Could Host The 2030 World Cup?
There looks to be two competitive bids that could stop Saudi Arabia from hosting the World Cup in 2030, and both come in with excellent proposals. A bid formed between Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, and Paraguay was announced as early as 2017, with the internet community pleading for the prospect as an anniversary of the very first World Cup 100 years ago, which was staged in Uruguay.
However, that bid could yet meet resistance with a lack of infrastructure in place to host such an event. Therefore, the most likely contender to host the World Cup in 2030 could see the competition once again return to Europe, as a joint bid between Spain, Portugal, and Ukraine, has been endorsed by all parties. The bid originally was just Spain and Portugal, but Ukraine was added into the bid to show a united front following the invasion or Russia.
Conclusion
The official host nation will not be announced until the 74th FIFA Congress in 2024, but the bidding war to host the competition is already heating up. Those that wish the competition will need to solidify their plans before bringing them to FIFA.