On Monday, FIFA announced a significant investment initiative, agreeing to provide up to $1 billion in stadium-financing loans backed by Saudi Arabia for developing countries.
The loans, which will be subsidized, are designed to assist member football associations in constructing or renovating stadiums, as stated by the Saudi Fund for Development and FIFA.
Notably, Saudi Arabia is set to host the men’s World Cup for the first time in 2034.
Additionally, FIFA has secured a sponsorship deal with Saudi state oil company Aramco for the 2026 World Cup.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino described the partnership as “a crucial step in ensuring our FIFA Member Associations have the facilities to make football truly global.”
According to a news release from FIFA, the agreement “highlights a joint commitment to assist developing nations in enhancing their sports ecosystems as part of wider efforts to promote social and economic development.”
During a ceremony in Zurich to commemorate the agreement, Infantino emphasized the importance of infrastructure development, stating, “Developing and building infrastructure is extremely, extremely important. I would like to express my gratitude to the Saudi Fund for Development, its CEO, and the entire team for facilitating this partnership.”
Sultan bin Abdulrahman Al-Marshad, CEO of the Saudi Fund for Development, remarked, “At SFD, we believe in the transformative power of sports. We are combining our capabilities—SFD’s development finance and FIFA’s technical expertise—not only to build venues but also to create lasting legacies. We are investing in infrastructure that will unlock human potential, create jobs, empower youth, and strengthen communities for generations to come.”
Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund has also backed the LIV Golf series and sponsored major boxing events.
In December 2024, FIFA announced a global broadcasting agreement for the Club World Cup with the streaming service DAZN, just two days before confirming that Saudi Arabia would host the men’s 2034 World Cup.
A rumored Saudi investment in DAZN, reported to be around $1 billion, was confirmed several weeks later.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.