FIFA President unexpectedly voices support for Ronaldo

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has shown his support and alignment with Cristiano Ronaldo's statements regarding the Saudi Pro League.

Since Cristiano Ronaldo joined Al Nassr at the end of 2022, the league has experienced exponential growth, attracting fans worldwide and drawing many top talents to the Saudi Pro League. This impact is so significant that FIFA has confirmed Saudi Arabia will host the 2034 World Cup, with President Gianni Infantino making a bold prediction about the league's future following this announcement.

The Portuguese forward has consistently defended the Saudi Pro League, even asserting that the level of competition in Saudi Arabia surpasses leagues such as France's Ligue 1 and Portugal's Primeira Liga. Despite facing considerable criticism for these remarks, Infantino appears to side with Ronaldo when discussing the league's rapidly growing trajectory.

In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat of Arab News, the FIFA President stated: “The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has become a major hub on the global football stage” and expressed confidence that the country “is on course to become one of the top three leagues in the world.”

Sharing this perspective, the head of FIFA further praised the rapid development of the Saudi Pro League, describing it as “a domestic league with a global character”. Almost all this growth is linked to Cristiano Ronaldo’s arrival at Al Nassr, as his signing paved the way for other stars like Neymar to begin their journey in the Middle East.

In an official statement, FIFA revealed that Saudi Arabia was the only country to submit an official bid to host the 2034 World Cup. Therefore, the nation has been confirmed as the host for that tournament.

Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat about choosing a Middle Eastern country to host the 2034 World Cup, Infantino described Saudi Arabia as “a hospitable country with a rich culture, delicious cuisine, and admirable people”.

He also mentioned that Saudi Arabia will participate in the 2026 World Cup, which will be held in the USA, Mexico, and Canada, featuring a special format with 48 teams.

In the interview, Infantino discussed Saudi Arabia’s chances in the tournament, where they will be in Group H alongside Spain, Uruguay, and Cape Verde. The FIFA President did not rule out the possibility of the Asian representative causing an upset against stronger contenders, similar to their performance against Argentina at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.