FIFA is "facing three major decisions in the coming weeks and months," and Saudi Arabia, "long a bit player" among football's ruling classes, is "positioning itself as one of the most powerful influencers in each of them," according to Tariq Panja of the N.Y. TIMES. Foremost is the vote on the 2026 World Cup host. There is also a proposal to expand the 2022 World Cup in Qatar to 48 teams. Finally, FIFA "has to decide how to proceed in ongoing negotiations with investors" who are offering as much as $25B for two new football tournaments. Saudi Arabia is "among the biggest investors in the consortium that has offered the potential windfall to FIFA." Leaders of the North American bid for the 2026 World Cup traveled to Saudi Arabia recently to "make a pitch to leaders of a dozen national federations" after the Middle Eastern nation created a new regional bloc -- the South West Asian Football Federation. If the group continues with Saudi Arabia at its helm, the Saudis "could potentially control more than simply their own vote on the important matters facing FIFA." Officials from 10 mainly South Asian and Arab countries posed for a picture to announce the formation of the group, which will be based in Jeddah and led by Adel Ezzat, the head of football in Saudi Arabia. Its honorary president is Turki al-Sheikh, the kingdom's top sports official. Saudi Arabia's General Sports Authority did not respond to requests for comment (N.Y. TIMES, 5/18).
