Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met with FIFA President Gianni Infantino in Riyadh on Tuesday to discuss developing sports opportunities in the Kingdom. The meeting, attended by key Saudi officials, focused on enhancing football's role in uniting communities. Saudi Arabia is set to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup.
In Riyadh on Tuesday, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman held discussions with Gianni Infantino, president of the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA), on areas of sports cooperation. The two sides explored ways to develop sports opportunities within the Kingdom, as reported by the Saudi Press Agency.
The meeting included prominent attendees such as Minister of Sport Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal, Minister of Commerce Dr. Majid Al-Kassabi, Public Investment Fund Governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan, Royal Court Adviser Abdulaziz Tarabzouni, and Saudi Arabian Football Federation President Yasser Al-Misehal.
Earlier that day, Infantino addressed the ninth Future Investment Initiative conference in Riyadh. Reflecting on the event, he posted on Instagram: “Every panelist shared the sentiment that football is a magic instrument that immediately makes you smile and brings people and communities closer.”
This follows a separate meeting on Monday involving Infantino, Prince Abdulaziz, Al-Misehal, and Adwa Al-Arifi, the assistant minister at the Ministry of Sport. Infantino noted on Instagram that the group discussed how “sport can grow in the Kingdom and create new ways for people here to be united through their love of football.”
Saudi Arabia's role as host of the 2034 FIFA World Cup underscores the Kingdom's growing prominence in global football.