Via David Watkinson in bbc.com: Saudi Arabia has invested around £5bn in sports since 2021, when the countrys crown prince Mohammed bin Salman made it a key part of his strategy to diversify the economy, with a host of major sporting events brought to the kingdom, including high-profile boxing and Formula 1. The countrys domestic football league now includes world stars such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Neymar Jr, and the countrys Public Investment Fund owns Newcastle United and launched the breakaway LIV golf series. However, the country has been accused of sportswashing – using its unprecedented spending on sport to improve the oil-producing kingdoms reputation over its human rights record and environmental impact. So what will a World Cup in Saudi Arabia look like?
