FIFA’s New Sponsorship Deal with Saudi Arabia: Bringing Back Controversy to the World of Sports

FIFA has announced a sponsorship deal with Saudi Arabia’s state oil company, Aramco. This agreement is expected to last through 2027 and will include multiple major FIFA tournaments, including the 2026 men’s World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, as well as the upcoming 32-team Club World Cup scheduled to be held in the United States next year.

The announcement comes after Saudi Arabia was selected as the host for the 2034 men’s World Cup last October. The specific financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, but it is believed to be one of the most lucrative agreements for FIFA in terms of average annual value.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has developed a strong rapport with Saudi Arabia and its Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman since well before the 2018 World Cup. Notably, the 2034 bidding process was tailored in a way that appeared to heavily favor Saudi Arabia, with only member federations from Asia and Oceania allowed to participate. By the end of October, Saudi Arabia emerged as the sole candidate for the 2034 hosting rights.

In contrast to their involvement in previous tournaments such as the Visit Saudi tourism board’s minor sponsorship role in the 2022 World Cup held in Qatar, they did not participate as a sponsor in the 2023 Women’s World Cup due to objections from tournament organizers in Australia and New Zealand.