Saudi Arabia has poured roughly $2 billion into football in recent years — buying top international players, hiring big-name coaches, and hosting major tournaments. But the payoff for the country’s own national team remains elusive. With the 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign underway, the Green Falcons are still struggling to lock down a spot, raising questions about whether the spending spree is actually helping the domestic game.
A spending spree that hasn’t translated
The investment began in earnest after the 2022 World Cup, when Saudi clubs lured stars like Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar with contracts worth hundreds of millions. The goal was clear: raise the profile of the Saudi Pro League, develop local talent alongside global names, and eventually produce a national team strong enough to compete regularly on the world stage.
But so far, the results on the pitch for the Green Falcons have been uneven. In the current Asian qualifying rounds for the 2026 tournament, Saudi Arabia sits in a precarious position in its group, needing strong results in the final matches to avoid missing out entirely. The team has lost to lower-ranked opponents and struggled to find consistency under a rotating cast of coaches.
What the money has bought
The $2 billion figure covers everything from transfer fees and salaries for foreign players to stadium upgrades, youth academies, and marketing campaigns. League attendance has surged, and broadcast deals have expanded. Saudi Arabia also successfully bid to host the 2034 World Cup, a coup that required significant infrastructure investment.
Yet the national team’s performance hasn’t mirrored the financial commitment. Despite training at world-class facilities and gaining exposure to elite players in the domestic league, the squad has failed to dominate in Asia, a region that has improved rapidly across the board.
The gap between spending and results
Football development is a long game, and Saudi officials have said the investment is a multi-decade project. The 2026 cycle may come too soon for the systemic changes to take hold. But the immediate pressure is mounting. Missing the 2026 World Cup would be a blow to the country’s soccer ambitions and a talking point for critics who argue the money should have been spent differently.
This month’s qualifiers will be telling. A loss could all but eliminate Saudi Arabia from contention, while a win would keep hope alive. The next decision for Saudi football leaders is whether to change course — or double down and wait for the returns to come.
