– If they now show that they have a team that can perform sportingly in the World Cup, then there is no counter-argument for them to be allowed to organize the World Cup in 2030, says Saudi Arabia expert Reier Møll Scoeder. After the 2-1 victory against Argentina, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman posted a series of jubilant photos on social media. At the same time, he declared the next day a national holiday to continue the celebrations. – The victory also reflects positively on the authorities, and is particularly important in light of the influence Saudi Arabia seeks to have in international football and a possible application to host the World Cup in 2030, says the postdoctoral fellow at the department of criminology and legal sociology at the University in Oslo, Charlotte Lysa. SMIIIL: Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (left) poses with Prince Saud bin Salman after the victory over Argentina. Photo: SAUDI ROYAL COURT / Reuters Lightens the veil on World Cup plans It is expected that Saudi Arabia will apply to host the football World Cup in 2030. Bin Salman is close to Fifa president Gianni Infantino, and together they followed the opening match in the World Cup from the stands. It has previously been reported that they are considering applying together with Egypt and Greece. The country’s football president, Yasser Al Misehal, says that they have great ambitions for the development of football in the country, and that organizing major tournaments can help. – We have not decided to apply for the World Cup in 2030. We are aware of the rumours, but we are waiting for Fifa to open the door to everyone. After they have done that, we can assess whether it is something that fits into our plans or not, he tells Goal in a recent interview. JOY AND DISAPPOINTMENT: Lionel Messi walks off the pitch in despair, while the Saudi Arabia players can hardly believe what has happened. Photo: Natacha Pisarenko / AP Al Misehal probably refers to Fifa’s new rules, where, among other things, demands are made for the situation of human rights in the country applying for the World Cup. – As of today, Saudi Arabia is nowhere near being ready to have a major championship without it turning out to be high risk on all these assessments, said Norway’s football president Lise Klaveness in news’s WC studio. In a new interview with Sky News, Saudi Arabia’s sports minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal answers whether the human rights violations make the country unsuitable as a host for major championships. – I am not saying that we are perfect. Nobody is. There are many problems in the world. But are we working for a better future for everyone? Yes we do. We have taken measures that show that, he says. In the same interview, bin Turki Al-Faisal says that it will be against their religion, Islam, if they allow the sale of alcohol during a possible World Cup. The day before this year’s World Cup, Qatar closed the beer taps at the World Cup stadiums. “Women’s investment” before WC application? Saudi Arabia is following in the footsteps of neighboring Qatar in several ways. In October this year, a women’s league was started in the country for the first time, just as Qatar did the year they applied for the World Cup. The team is led by German coaching legend Monika Staab. She previously held the same job in Qatar. – They say a woman is like crystal. When she plays soccer, she can crush. Then I say: “I have played football for 50 years. I have not yet broken.” You always have to argue, she tells SVT, but emphasizes that football is constantly making progress in the country. In Qatar, the women’s national team played its first match in 2010. The last in 2014. Today, it is almost impossible to find women playing football in the country, as news has previously written about. Will Saudi Arabia do the same if they win the World Cup? For now, the Saudi football president expresses pride in the venture. – Women’s football has grown a lot since we introduced it a few years ago. We are very proud that the current board is the first to establish women’s football, says Al Misehal. QATAR WOMEN’S NATIONAL TEAM: These players are very hard to find again now. Qatar’s national team has not played matches since 2014. Photo: Mohan / [email protected] – Saudi Arabia is serious Klaveness points out that all 211 Fifa countries have the right to vote in the next World Cup election. Everyone must also vote openly, so it is clear who lands in Saudi Arabia as the host nation. – In theory, Saudi Arabia can get a majority, but then the Fifa Council will have to let through a high-risk application. Therefore, ethical leadership and political pressure are needed, so that the Fifa board is influenced by the high-risk assessment that Saudi Arabia’s application must bear. But we can end up in this situation, because Saudi Arabia means business, says the football president. NORWAY’S FOOTBALL PRESIDENT: Lise Klaveness. Photo: Håkon Benjaminsen / news A WC in Saudi Arabia will be very controversial in large parts of the world. The country has a long history of executions, violations of human rights, discrimination against gays and women, and repression of regime critics. On the same day that Argentina was defeated, Saudi Arabia’s news agency announced that the country had executed 17 men for drug offenses and smuggling. Amnesty International tells TV 2 that the country is deliberately telling about the executions at the same time as something positive is happening around Saudi Arabia. Royal family with close ties to football Those who decide everything are the all-powerful Al-Saud family. Football is extremely popular in Saudi Arabia, including among the country’s rulers. – Like most other things in Saudi Arabia, football is not independent from the authorities, says Lysa, who wrote her doctorate on women’s football in Qatar and Saudi Arabia. – In 2018, for example, the crown prince announced that he would cover all external debt for the football clubs in the top division, and the league was renamed the Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman League. All of the national team players also make a living here. Not one of the heroes against Argentina plays club football outside the borders of Saudi Arabia and the crown prince’s league. TRIBUTES: During the national team’s matches, it is not unusual for the supporters to hold up pictures of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Photo: KHALED DESOUKI / AFP After Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, several sports figures have spoken out critically against President Vladimir Putin. Saudi Arabia, for example, is involved in the war against Yemen, but you will hardly hear any of the country’s footballers advocating that the royal family must stop the bombing. – I am not aware that any of the players are critical of the regime. In practice, there is no tolerance for criticism of the regime in Saudi Arabia and even mild criticism can lead to long prison sentences. It is therefore difficult to imagine that someone could represent the country after making a critical statement, says Lysa.
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