KUWAIT: FIFA President Gianni Infantino said on Tuesday that Saudi Arabia has become the focus of the world’s attention thanks to its success in hosting and organizing world championships at the club and national team levels.

In his speech during the Saudi-US Investment Forum held in Riyadh, Infantino added that Saudi Arabia is firmly on the path of investing in football and is determined to move forward in this direction. He pointed out that the number of football followers around the world has reached about five billion people of different nationalities, cultures and languages, making it the most popular game in the world, pointing out that the upcoming 2026 World Cup will generate revenues estimated at 120 billion dollars and will contribute to providing more than one million jobs.

The president of FIFA explained that the gross domestic product of football globally reached 270 billion dollars in one year, reflecting the growing role of this sport in supporting national economies. He added that an important football event awaits us this summer, namely the Club World Cup, which will start on June 14 in the United States, in which the Saudi Al-Hilal Club will participate as a representative of the Asian continent, where it will play in its group against Real Madrid of Spain.

He pointed out that the next FIFA World Cup will be held in the United States, Canada and Mexico, while Saudi Arabia is preparing to host the 2034 edition, stressing that the World Cup is no longer just a sporting event, but has turned into an economic, cultural and social phenomenon that affects the whole world.

The FIFA President touched on women’s football, stressing its growing importance, noting that the Women’s World Cup will be held in Brazil in 2027, followed by North America in 2031, praising in this context the Kingdom’s efforts in developing women’s football by establishing a local league and a national team for women, describing this work as “exceptional”.

He expressed his happiness to be in Saudi Arabia, praising its remarkable developments in the field of football and its growing investments, especially after winning the bid to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup. — KUNA