– I cannot understand it. I think it is completely unbelievable that he can agree to an agreement with Saudi Arabia when he knows Argentina is also a World Cup candidate. It confirms how football is the root of commercial income, says South American expert Vegard Bye to news. One would think that it is public what kind of candidacy the recent World Cup winner Lionel Messi supports, but perhaps it is not. For the past six months, Messi has been promoting for the state-owned tourism company Visit Saudi, where he shines a light on Saudi Arabia as a country. It is worth mentioning that he has not previously hinted at a World Cup in the country, but he has been used to showcase tourist attractions. The website The Athletic has been in contact with Messi’s representatives, who could not go into details about the length and amount of the agreement with Saudi Arabia. Details of the terms of the agreement are currently unknown. Messi probably won’t play in the World Cup in 2030, but he can at most be involved in the championship anyway. It is provisional if one candidate is confirmed. It is a collaboration between Spain, Portugal and Ukraine. Two other candidates are expected who will probably be confirmed before too long. It is a collaboration between four South American countries in Uruguay, Chile, Paraguay and Argentina. When the plans of the South American countries became known, Uruguayan Luis Suárez and Messi were among the front figures. The team-mates at the time posed together for a photo with number 20 on Suárez’s kit and number 30 on Messi’s kit, to symbolize the WC year 2030. WC ON HOME TRACK? Luis Suárez and Lionel Messi posed with jersey numbers 20 and 30 in 2017. Photo: STRINGER / Reuters – Incredible distance Bye believes, among other things, that these two players are important in the battle to secure the World Cup. But he doubts whether Messi actually prefers his homeland. – He has probably said he supports Argentina, but how credible is that? Saudi Arabia has made 2030 a key year, and the WC will be the crowning achievement. I think this will be a problem at home for Messi. He must be in an incredible mess now, says Bye. CRITICAL: Vegard Bye is disappointed that Messi is promoting Saudi Arabian tourism. Photo: Kai Rune Kvitstein / news It is also expected that Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Greece will apply to host the most sought-after sports events in the world. The Athletic writes that Messi’s team would not comment on what this does to his involvement in Argentina’s World Cup application. Nor would they comment on how many times he will visit the country in the Middle East. In a post from 20 June, the Argentine wrote: – Many have asked me about my trip to Saudi. I visited the country during Jeddah season, and let me tell you, it was incredible. Good food, live entertainment, art, culture and water sports. There are several festivals going on! I can’t wait for my next trip so I can tell you more. Photo: Leomessi / Instagram Photo: Leomessi / Instagram Photo: Leomessi / Instagram – Profiles have been bought Charlotte Lysa at the University of Oslo, who specializes in society in Saudi Arabia, points out that she does not know the details of Messi’s agreement with the country . But she points out that he has shone over the country from the Middle East for several years for Argentina and Barcelona, primarily. – It is an extension in that they want to attract the biggest football teams, and especially the biggest profiles, says Lysa to news. It is claimed that the agreement he has with Visit Saudi expires in 2030. It is not certain that this is a coincidence. – The overall political strategy of Saudi Arabia is called vision 2030. If you look at what they are doing, everything is happening towards 2030 and all political goals are aimed at that year. 2030 is an important year for them, regardless of the football World Cup, says Lysa. POWERFUL: Mohammed Bin Salman probably has plans to bring the World Cup to Saudi Arabia. Photo: MANAN VATSYAYANA / AFP She further says that we have seen an increasing use of profiles in connection with Saudi Arabia on a general basis. It could be a step towards securing the football World Cup in the country. – The football profiles have been bought, one could say. When Messi was visiting Saudi Arabia with Argentina, there was no telling how many pictures were taken of him doing things, she says and insists: – They have a reputation as a place you don’t want to visit. They undeniably have a bad reputation compared to neighboring Dubai, and they use Messi to reverse that impression by showing a completely different image of the country. Promoted World Cup in Argentina There is no doubt in any case that Saudi Arabia is getting more and more involved in football. They are already planning to build several arenas, and their largest stadium in the King Fahd International Stadium is to be renewed and have increased capacity. – It is a country where all entertainment apart from football and sports is forbidden, and only men can play sports. That says something about the potential, both nationally and internationally, because this is money that has gone out of the country instead of within the country, says Lysa. SEVERAL VISITS: Lionel Messi has been to Saudi Arabia on several occasions with Barcelona and Argentina. Photo: MOHAMMED MASHOUR / AFP – Messi is now in a possible squeeze, with both Saudi Arabia and Argentina as possible World Cup candidates in 2030. What can Saudi Arabia tempt? – It’s probably mainly about money. One can also say that football is very popular in Saudi Arabia, so you get hero status if you visit the country. It is clear that recognition will probably get Messi elsewhere too, so it is the money that stands out. It should be said that the team from South America can also have an advantage in that it is the 100th anniversary of the World Cup, and precisely Uruguay won the first edition. Therefore, one can think that it has, if nothing else, a symbolic effect. Messi’s former team-mate on the national team Maxi Rodriguez admits that it looks a bit strange to promote for Saudi Arabia now. – Yes, honestly. But at the same time, you never know what might happen in the end. One wants the WC to be on home soil. But there is a lot that needs to be done first, and it is not easy to organize a WC. We will see when the host nation is chosen. As an Argentine, I want to experience this again, says Rodriguez to The Athletic. The choice of host nation will be decided in 2024.
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Messi in World Cup squeeze – can contribute to Argentina becoming a wreck – news Sport – Sports news, results and broadcasting schedule
