Could Saudi Arabia Find a Way Into the Champions League?
Saudi Arabia is allegedly eyeing a spot in the UEFA Champions League, apparently drawing inspiration from Australia's rather strange participation in Eurovision. In fact, it has been rumoured that representatives from the Saudi Pro League have already initiated talks with UEFA, proposing the inclusion of the Pro League winner in the new Swiss-style format of the Champions League. They are looking to make a mark in the world of football - and this move would definitely enhance Saudi Arabia's footballing reputation ten-fold.
With Neymar now earning a staggering £138 million annually from his Saudi club, Al-Hilal, they have easily surpassed Manchester United in terms of the world's largest wage bill. Al-Hilal, Al-Ittihad, Al-Ahli and Al-Nassr all had 75% stakes acquired by the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia as part of the Saudi Vision 2030 program. This is a massive step in the Saudi football revolution and certainly signifies their ambition to make a huge impact on the global football stage. But will Saudi teams really have what it takes to go head to head with teams such as Real Madrid and Man City - and make any impact on the best footballing odds at all?
How would it work?
The Champions League is said to be gearing up for an expansion in the upcoming season anyway, transitioning from a 32-team format to a 36-team setup... In this new system, clubs will face two additional group-stage games every season.
Currently, two Champions League spots are allocated to leagues with the highest coefficients. This means that often, five English clubs will have the opportunity to qualify for the competition. However, the Saudi Football Association is expressing interest in securing a "wildcard" entry for one of their teams.
While the winner of the Saudi Pro League could potentially enter the competition, this is just one of the possibilities. Given that four clubs are now owned by the Public Investment Fund (PIF), it's very possible that the Saudi FA might extend an invitation to all four of these teams, allowing all of them to compete... And the future configuration of the Champions League could be on the brink of a massive change.
Is This Good for The Game?
The response to these discussions has, unsurprisingly, been met with resistance. The UEFA Champions League has a long-standing European tradition, spanning nearly seven decades. Simply welcoming Saudi Arabia into Europe's biggest competition like this does little to address concerns about the practice of sportswashing.
Whether it's the Saudi Pro League acquiring underperforming European teams or clubs like Chelsea spending ridiculous sums of money, the topic of over-the-top spending in football has definitely been met with strong opinions. There's also very little evidence that this wealth trickles down to the much smaller clubs, putting them at an even greater disadvantage.
It also raises concerns about fans having to make midweek journeys to the Middle East - as well as challenges faced by minority groups, given the host country's stance on issues like women's rights and homosexuality. These alone could cause serious opposition.
Yet big teams embrace Saudi Arabia's money. European football teams are happy to accept Saudi money for underperforming players. La Liga has even secured sponsorship from Visit Saudi. While the Premier League remains a dominant force - and has more than enough overseas investments, other European giants could be enticed by the financial incentives. For example, AC Milan, a seven-time Champions League winner, is now competing economically with mid-tier English teams. Some of their fans will be more than happy for Saudi cash.
Will It Happen?
UEFA is very aware of the challenges to its dominance. The Champions League constantly faces threats from its biggest teams - clubs that periodically contemplate breaking away to form their own competitions. By involving Saudi Arabia, they could potentially delay the advent of a Super League, albeit temporarily.
On the other hand, FIFA seems to have its reservations. They are in the process of relaunching the Club World Cup, which could face competition from this revamped UCL - and it's uncertain as to whether FIFA would approve such a venture.
A more likely scenario could involve Saudi Arabia hosting the final of the competition in 2026 - the next available slot. However, the 75th edition of the competition is set for 2030, which is the same year Saudi Arabia is looking to host the World Cup. A grand UCL featuring all the top Saudi teams might seem like too good of an opportunity to pass up, even for 45-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo, making one final attempt to lift the coveted trophy for a record-breaking sixth time! But who knows... if Australia can be part of a European competition, anything is possible!