Saudi Arabia poured $2B into football but its national team still limps into the 2026 World Cup

In November 2022, Saudi Arabia stunned the world by beating eventual champions Argentina 2-1 at Lusail Stadium.

Three years and roughly $2 billion in Public Investment Fund spending later, the Green Falcons barely scraped into the 2026 World Cup through playoffs. The money bought Cristiano Ronaldo. It did not, apparently, buy a functional national team pipeline.

Big names, bigger questions

PIF’s strategy for the Saudi Pro League was straightforward: sign the most famous players on the planet and let the gravity of star power do the rest. Cristiano Ronaldo joined Al-Nassr. Neymar landed at Al-Hilal. Karim Benzema signed with Al-Ittihad. The league suddenly had more Ballon d’Or winners than most continental competitions.

Four clubs, Al-Nassr, Al-Hilal, Al-Ahli, and Al-Ittihad, fell under PIF’s management umbrella.