Saudi Arabia’s grip on world sport

Play the Game presents a new report and dataset which uncover the extensive scale and intricate networks behind Saudi Arabia’s sports strategy. Mapping 1,412 key positions across 209 Saudi entities and documenting 910 sponsorships in sports globally, this research provides unparalleled insights into one of the most influential players in international sports today.

This report and dataset offer a deep dive into the efforts by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to reshape the world of sports, and highlights how its strategic sponsorships, investments, and alliances are altering the global sports landscape.

What’s inside the report?

• Insightful stories on key figures and state entities shaping Saudi Arabia’s sports ambitions, including their role in relation to the 2034 FIFA World Cup.
• Examples of sponsorships, strategic alliances, and partnerships that illustrate the Kingdom’s far-reaching influence.
• Examples of conflicts of interest and governance challenges, including implications related to the 2034 FIFA World Cup. 

What’s inside the dataset?

Play the Game’s dataset offers a comprehensive overview of the people and organisations behind Saudi Arabia’s sports strategy and provides a wealth of data for journalists, researchers, and policymakers to explore:

• A detailed list of 910 Saudi Arabian sponsorships in world sport
• A mapping of a total of 1,412 key actors in Saudi Arabian ministries, the Saudi Arabian Olympic federations, Saudi Pro League football clubs, and state-owned entities.
• A list of 48 memorandums of understanding between the Saudi Arabian Football Federation and various football federations, as well as six partnerships with foreign football clubs.

Why you should read the report

Beneath the surface of these numbers lies a story of how Saudi Arabia is using sports to project soft power, build strategic alliances, and reshape its global image while making the world forget about the Kingdom’s severe human rights atrocities.

The report highlights many governance challenges, conflicts of interest, and potential risks to the integrity of international sports.

Discover the connections, follow the data, and gain unique insights into one of the most significant developments in the intersection of sports and geopolitics which is reshaping global sports politics.