FIFA World Cup 2026 :Canada/Mexico/United States: Discussion Thread

[Rampagoe004]

Ronaldo gave them some attention, but he knew that it was not going to be sustainable. The only thing that made anyone sustainable is the money that Ronaldo got. All the buzz around him is more or less gone. Remember how huge everything was and how headlines were written about him in the Al Nasr jersey, but what is left of that. Al Nasr is behind, he isn't the best goal scorer anymore and the only thing that is stable is his income stream. Many great players after him have decided against going to there. Modric, Lewandowski, Messi (all won the best footballer award), Mbappe... I don't know but I think they were hoping for more.

LOL.. you are wrong.

Buzz about Ronaldo is gone? Definitely not. Matches of Al Nassr are being watched by hundreds of millions of people around the world. In my office (in India), I know a couple of die hard Ronaldo fans who watch every match of Al Nassr. Once people get used to Saudi clubs, most of them would stay. And that will happen even after Ronaldo is gone. Obviously the Saudis will get more high profile players in the league. Saudis are here to stay as one of the new football superpowers. And that is happening whether you like it or not.

This time I agree with your opinion after Ronaldo played in the Saudi Arabian League. Hundreds of thousands of football fans switched to the Arab League. Every Al Nassr match is always crowded with spectators, much different from teams in other Arab leagues.
With the presence of several European star players in Arabia, it will make the League Arab countries are increasingly progressing even though Cristiano Ronaldo no longer plays in the league.

[Sithara007]

This time I agree with your opinion after Ronaldo played in the Saudi Arabian League. Hundreds of thousands of football fans switched to the Arab League. Every Al Nassr match is always crowded with spectators, much different from teams in other Arab leagues.
With the presence of several European star players in Arabia, it will make the League Arab countries are increasingly progressing even though Cristiano Ronaldo no longer plays in the league.

Well.. Europeans find it difficult to admit that their supremacy in football is over. There was a time, when the European leagues such as Emglish Premier League, La Liga, Bundesliga, Serie A, Ligue 1 and Eredivisie used to have complete monopoly as far as association football is considered. All the top players used to prefer one of these leagues. But now times have changed, with players mostly preferring Major League Soccer and    Saudi Professional League. Even J1 League and Chinese Super League are now becoming popular across the globe.

[doomloop]

I really like the effort they are making in Saudi Arabia, because perhaps the results are not seen now, but with the younger generations, yes. There are many important, famous players who have gone to Saudi Arabia, and they are experienced players with very good technique. The main idea is that the Arabs also learn from their experience, and this will gradually increase their level of football. For me, it is a great step that they are taking. We must not forget what they did in Qatar , they beat the Champions of the world.

In my opinion, this move by Saudi Arabia will not make the national team strong. We just have to look at how many countries have good football leagues but need players who are playing abroad for the national team to be strong. The Saudis are bringing in foreign players to play in the Saudi league, but in the long term it will not make this league strong, because as soon as Cristiano Ronaldo retires, everyone will stop paying attention to this league and even foreign players will not accept playing in these leagues.
[/quote]
Now we have change in mindset of youngsters in this region which is heading them for having something different but still it's all not easy to have strong soccer team while you have the toughest opponents which are giving their best in all conditions but if we have good strategy with consistency and strong infrastructure then surely we can have Saudi Arab as one of the best soccer team in future they needed good motivation for their youths to join and give their best as well.

Changes are happening and these all for having new culture in this region Qatar world cup for first drop and now Saudi Arab influence are surely going to be had big changes as mentioned we will be having this region as sports hub and things could be beyond our imagination due to their available sources which are unlimited.

[virasog]

This time I agree with your opinion after Ronaldo played in the Saudi Arabian League. Hundreds of thousands of football fans switched to the Arab League. Every Al Nassr match is always crowded with spectators, much different from teams in other Arab leagues.
With the presence of several European star players in Arabia, it will make the League Arab countries are increasingly progressing even though Cristiano Ronaldo no longer plays in the league.

Well.. Europeans find it difficult to admit that their supremacy in football is over. There was a time, when the European leagues such as Emglish Premier League, La Liga, Bundesliga, Serie A, Ligue 1 and Eredivisie used to have complete monopoly as far as association football is considered. All the top players used to prefer one of these leagues. But now times have changed, with players mostly preferring Major League Soccer and    Saudi Professional League. Even J1 League and Chinese Super League are now becoming popular across the globe.

From the spectator's point of view, I still think the English premier league and other European leagues are more popular. The Arab leagues and Chinese leagues are emerging but they cannot take the place of the ones already running for ages. Yes, the players want to play for Arab Leagues as they offer attractive packages but still i will not believe that Asia have become supremacy in football as yet. They may never become as there are very few Asian countries that play quality football.

[coinlocket$]

I've have read that apple is close to get the tv rights for the world cup.
This is werid but it can be a huge marketing for them, imagine if they do something like 1st person poing of view with the Apple vision pro and the global launch for later 2025.

It will be massive.

[dezoel]

I think the decision of the Government or Investors to bring many star players and legends to the SPL is the first step to attract the attention of football fans from all over the world. They have unlimited money so they can do that. Now we can see that the SPL is already known by many people. Some football lovers in my country even have a collection of shirts from Al Hilal, Al Ittihad, or Al Nasr.

But on the other hand, the arrival of many star players to the Saudi League does not immediately make Saudi Arabian players one of the football powers in the world. I remember Mancini once said that Saudi Arabia had difficulty in qualifying because most of their players were bench players because teams in the SPL preferred star players from Europe or America rather than local players. Of course this is something bad for the Saudi Arabian national team but I am sure in the long term they will become one of the best teams in the world. Maybe in the future they will become the number 1 or number 2 best team in Asia along with Japan.

Yeah right, even in football manager game, gradually Saudi league starts to provide some good young players. They are called "regens" in football manager, players that do not exist right now, but future stars and when you have amazing stars in your league, you make kids watch it more than their parents did.

Twenty years ago, or even further, Saudi people didn't care about football, only a few did of course, but not like right now, which means, kids that are under 15 right now, well more like under 10 right now, could grow up watching Ronaldo and a football craze in their nation and may want to be a football player more than their parents did, this could produce a lot more young talent for them in the future. Not saying they will become a world force, of course not, but they will definitely be better than right now, there is absolutely no doubt about that, they are going to be much better than right now and they will not face any issues at all.

[tiCeR]

Ronaldo gave them some attention, but he knew that it was not going to be sustainable. The only thing that made anyone sustainable is the money that Ronaldo got. All the buzz around him is more or less gone. Remember how huge everything was and how headlines were written about him in the Al Nasr jersey, but what is left of that. Al Nasr is behind, he isn't the best goal scorer anymore and the only thing that is stable is his income stream. Many great players after him have decided against going to there. Modric, Lewandowski, Messi (all won the best footballer award), Mbappe... I don't know but I think they were hoping for more.

LOL.. you are wrong.

Buzz about Ronaldo is gone? Definitely not. Matches of Al Nassr are being watched by hundreds of millions of people around the world. In my office (in India), I know a couple of die hard Ronaldo fans who watch every match of Al Nassr. Once people get used to Saudi clubs, most of them would stay. And that will happen even after Ronaldo is gone. Obviously the Saudis will get more high profile players in the league. Saudis are here to stay as one of the new football superpowers. And that is happening whether you like it or not.

Die hard Ronaldo fans is not the right scale to look at. Al Nassr and the Saudi Pro League is after the broad masses, the ordinary football fan watching the Saudi Pro League not only because of Ronaldo, but because the league as a whole is becoming a highlight and that buzz is gone.

In most of the key markets that are known for football, the broadcasting statistics for the Saudi Pro League are rather low. They are recruiting players from Europe in the hope that the biggest football market in the world turns its eyes to Saudi Arabia, but it is not as you say. India maybe, who knows maybe China, and that is all good because it makes them some money. But Al Nassr and more importantly the league had other hopes. The buzz has decreased and any other perception is delusional. India is good to have, but you want the subscriptions being sold where the most money is made.

[Sithara007]

From the spectator's point of view, I still think the English premier league and other European leagues are more popular. The Arab leagues and Chinese leagues are emerging but they cannot take the place of the ones already running for ages. Yes, the players want to play for Arab Leagues as they offer attractive packages but still i will not believe that Asia have become supremacy in football as yet. They may never become as there are very few Asian countries that play quality football.

It is a gradual process. First, the players will shift to the non-European leagues. Once that is done, gradually the fans will shift their allegiance as well. EPL still remains the most popular football league in the world. And that is because for many decades the best players in the world have participated in this league. If the Saudi Professional League wants to challenge the English Premier League, then it is going to take at least one decade to so that. That said, challenging the EPL is not on the agenda for the Saudis, AFAIK.

[stepwilli]

From the spectator's point of view, I still think the English premier league and other European leagues are more popular. The Arab leagues and Chinese leagues are emerging but they cannot take the place of the ones already running for ages. Yes, the players want to play for Arab Leagues as they offer attractive packages but still i will not believe that Asia have become supremacy in football as yet. They may never become as there are very few Asian countries that play quality football.

Here no one having any doubt about few things European Leagues are far ahead from rest of the world due to their competitiveness and few other advantages even for me in next few decades no other leagues can touch them even we have huge investments from Gulf region countries but their system and structure is not near them which is big advantage for them, and they had good monopoly as well which is allowing them to keep things on top level.

But now due to recent changes in this region we have Saudi Arab which is the biggest country in Gulf region with huge population and many other advantages can do good things as now they are already set their vision for having bring changes which will allow them to have change of their centuries old culture and many other things their investment in Soccer and Tennis are clear indications of changing.

[Zlantann]

From the spectator's point of view, I still think the English premier league and other European leagues are more popular. The Arab leagues and Chinese leagues are emerging but they cannot take the place of the ones already running for ages. Yes, the players want to play for Arab Leagues as they offer attractive packages but still i will not believe that Asia have become supremacy in football as yet. They may never become as there are very few Asian countries that play quality football.

The Chinese league has lost its value and is no longer improving. The Chinese government once invested so much money in the League with the intention that it would develop and begin to generate funds that would be used to run the league. They began to hire quality players with so much money. However the league failed because of its political system, mismanagement of funds and corruption. The government interference and control plus corruption discouraged investors from investing in the league.

We are seeing the Saudi Arabia League moving towards the same path as the Chinese counterparts. But we are hoping that they will manage the league and build it it the extent of competing with an average European league like Turkey, Sweden, Poland, etc.

[Akbarkoe]

......................

Die hard Ronaldo fans is not the right scale to look at. Al Nassr and the Saudi Pro League is after the broad masses, the ordinary football fan watching the Saudi Pro League not only because of Ronaldo, but because the league as a whole is becoming a highlight and that buzz is gone.

In most of the key markets that are known for football, the broadcasting statistics for the Saudi Pro League are rather low. They are recruiting players from Europe in the hope that the biggest football market in the world turns its eyes to Saudi Arabia, but it is not as you say. India maybe, who knows maybe China, and that is all good because it makes them some money. But Al Nassr and more importantly the league had other hopes. The buzz has decreased and any other perception is delusional. India is good to have, but you want the subscriptions being sold where the most money is made.

Long before CR7 arrived in the Arab League and joined Al Nasr, there were already quite a few top European players who had moved to the Arab League, such as Marko Marin, Odion Ighalo, Angelos and others, but were they able to boost the popularity of the club and the league? In fact, no, my friend..!! However, after the mega star moved to the Arab League, the public's eyes immediately glanced at the Arab League. And CR7 was not only able to boost the popularity of the club, with the arrival of CR7, other European players also flocked to the Arab League, such as Karim Benzema, Kante, Neymar Jr and many more that I can't mention all of them. And thanks to the arrival of quality players in Arab clubs, this makes the competition in the league more competitive, so that not only its popularity increases, but even the league becomes the best league in Asia.

and regarding CR7's performance for his club and national team, I think for a player of his age, he has performed very well, where his performance is maintained even though he is old.

[indah rezqi]

From the spectator's point of view, I still think the English premier league and other European leagues are more popular. The Arab leagues and Chinese leagues are emerging but they cannot take the place of the ones already running for ages. Yes, the players want to play for Arab Leagues as they offer attractive packages but still i will not believe that Asia have become supremacy in football as yet. They may never become as there are very few Asian countries that play quality football.

The Chinese league has lost its value and is no longer improving. The Chinese government once invested so much money in the League with the intention that it would develop and begin to generate funds that would be used to run the league. They began to hire quality players with so much money. However the league failed because of its political system, mismanagement of funds and corruption. The government interference and control plus corruption discouraged investors from investing in the league.

We are seeing the Saudi Arabia League moving towards the same path as the Chinese counterparts. But we are hoping that they will manage the league and build it it the extent of competing with an average European league like Turkey, Sweden, Poland, etc.

That's right, the way the Saudi Government invests in the world of Football is better than China, although both have spent a large budget to realize their long-term ambitions. I predict that the Saudi Pro League will develop more rapidly than the Chinese Super League, through the PIF institution, they managed to make a big breakthrough by recruiting Ronaldo who was followed by other former top European players. Saudi ambitions are also carried out quite strategically, they managed to lobby FIFA to host the 2034 World Cup. A step that China has not been able to do so far, so it makes sense to say that the Saudi Pro League is better. It is very likely that the Saudi Pro League in the next decade will become a competitive League, approaching the level of the Top European Leagues in general.

[Cryptoprincess101]

This time I agree with your opinion after Ronaldo played in the Saudi Arabian League. Hundreds of thousands of football fans switched to the Arab League. Every Al Nassr match is always crowded with spectators, much different from teams in other Arab leagues.
With the presence of several European star players in Arabia, it will make the League Arab countries are increasingly progressing even though Cristiano Ronaldo no longer plays in the league.

I know that Cristiano Ronaldo's presence in the Saudi league command crowds because there are fans who are actually in Saudi Arabia just to watch Ronaldo play but it does not mean that Cristiano Ronaldo is the only European player that is influencing the Saudi league. The involvement of several European players in the Saudi League has made the league more entertaining and interesting so even if Ronaldo leaves the Saudi League now, they will still attract attention. Since the appearance of European teams in the league they have become more better and recognized unliked when there were not many European players in the Saudi League.

[Leviathan.007]

Ronaldo gave them some attention, but he knew that it was not going to be sustainable. The only thing that made anyone sustainable is the money that Ronaldo got. All the buzz around him is more or less gone. Remember how huge everything was and how headlines were written about him in the Al Nasr jersey, but what is left of that. Al Nasr is behind, he isn't the best goal scorer anymore and the only thing that is stable is his income stream. Many great players after him have decided against going to there. Modric, Lewandowski, Messi (all won the best footballer award), Mbappe... I don't know but I think they were hoping for more.

LOL.. you are wrong.

Buzz about Ronaldo is gone? Definitely not. Matches of Al Nassr are being watched by hundreds of millions of people around the world. In my office (in India), I know a couple of die hard Ronaldo fans who watch every match of Al Nassr. Once people get used to Saudi clubs, most of them would stay. And that will happen even after Ronaldo is gone. Obviously the Saudis will get more high profile players in the league. Saudis are here to stay as one of the new football superpowers. And that is happening whether you like it or not.

Die hard Ronaldo fans is not the right scale to look at. Al Nassr and the Saudi Pro League is after the broad masses, the ordinary football fan watching the Saudi Pro League not only because of Ronaldo, but because the league as a whole is becoming a highlight and that buzz is gone.

In most of the key markets that are known for football, the broadcasting statistics for the Saudi Pro League are rather low. They are recruiting players from Europe in the hope that the biggest football market in the world turns its eyes to Saudi Arabia, but it is not as you say. India maybe, who knows maybe China, and that is all good because it makes them some money. But Al Nassr and more importantly the league had other hopes. The buzz has decreased and any other perception is delusional. India is good to have, but you want the subscriptions being sold where the most money is made.

If you ask me I can say Ronaldo is not even having as good a performance as he had before and he can never be the same good Ronaldo we saw from him back in Real Madrid because of his getting old and that's why Portugal should think about finding a replacement to fill the place of Ronalod in this team because so far Portugal didn't have any interest in not using Ronalso for some games and use the younger player to give them more chance. Now Ronaldo is more like a marketing brand for Saudi Arabia and than a player for Portugal.

[tiCeR]

...

If you ask me I can say Ronaldo is not even having as good a performance as he had before and he can never be the same good Ronaldo we saw from him back in Real Madrid because of his getting old and that's why Portugal should think about finding a replacement to fill the place of Ronalod in this team because so far Portugal didn't have any interest in not using Ronalso for some games and use the younger player to give them more chance. Now Ronaldo is more like a marketing brand for Saudi Arabia and than a player for Portugal.

Here I fundamentally disagree: the reason is so obvious that I am surprised you yourself can't see it. Isn't it very easy to set the conditions under which Ronaldo should not be replaced? It is in my opinion and here is the evidence.



Ronaldo is by far the best goal scorer except for Fernandes who is only one goal behind him. For what reason should Portugal replace him now? I agree that they should have someone being prepared in the background who can take his position as soon as the time has come, but if he finishes a year as the top scorer of the national team, it would be stupid to leave him out of the team.

[LUCKMCFLY]

I must admit that Saudi Arabia has taken the right steps in recent times and the results are quite noticeable, one significant result is that they can be better known to many people (more popular). I am sure that most people previously did not know much about Saudi Arabia, both the league and the national team, but after their big move they gained popularity in a very short time. Now it is up to them how to take advantage of the opportunity, they should not miss this great opportunity, because it is very difficult to be known to many people, but they can do it.

Since I was a child, as long as I can remember, when I watched Saudi Arabia in a World Cup game, I thought their football was very boring and I didn't like watching it, now that it's a different thing, I watch Saudi football very actively, and that's something I look for no matter what, when I can't find it on my favorite channel I look for it live on the Internet and even if it's in Arabic I watch it, and lately Arabic seems to me to be a very interesting and beautiful language, there comes a moment when one gets so used to that football that it's very attractive and more interesting, at least it gets very exciting to me.

[Rampagoe004]

Since I was a child, as long as I can remember, when I watched Saudi Arabia in a World Cup game, I thought their football was very boring and I didn't like watching it, now that it's a different thing, I watch Saudi football very actively, and that's something I look for no matter what, when I can't find it on my favorite channel I look for it live on the Internet and even if it's in Arabic I watch it, and lately Arabic seems to me to be a very interesting and beautiful language, there comes a moment when one gets so used to that football that it's very attractive and more interesting, at least it gets very exciting to me.

Saudi Arabia in football is very boring, especially when appearing in the World Cup, teams that are in the same group as Saudi Arabia have the opportunity to take full points. Over the last few years, Saudi Arabia has developed football as a sport that is in great demand. Now Saudi Arabia appears very aggressive and increasingly difficult to beat opponent.
The arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo in the Arab League has had a big influence in bringing changes in the eyes of the world, making it an interesting spectacle, Saudi Arabia will be stronger in the next World Cup. I also see changes happening so quickly, this is very exciting for their country.

[Lidger]

Ronaldo gave them some attention, but he knew that it was not going to be sustainable. The only thing that made anyone sustainable is the money that Ronaldo got. All the buzz around him is more or less gone. Remember how huge everything was and how headlines were written about him in the Al Nasr jersey, but what is left of that. Al Nasr is behind, he isn't the best goal scorer anymore and the only thing that is stable is his income stream. Many great players after him have decided against going to there. Modric, Lewandowski, Messi (all won the best footballer award), Mbappe... I don't know but I think they were hoping for more.

LOL.. you are wrong.

Buzz about Ronaldo is gone? Definitely not. Matches of Al Nassr are being watched by hundreds of millions of people around the world. In my office (in India), I know a couple of die hard Ronaldo fans who watch every match of Al Nassr. Once people get used to Saudi clubs, most of them would stay. And that will happen even after Ronaldo is gone. Obviously the Saudis will get more high profile players in the league. Saudis are here to stay as one of the new football superpowers. And that is happening whether you like it or not.

Die hard Ronaldo fans is not the right scale to look at. Al Nassr and the Saudi Pro League is after the broad masses, the ordinary football fan watching the Saudi Pro League not only because of Ronaldo, but because the league as a whole is becoming a highlight and that buzz is gone.

In most of the key markets that are known for football, the broadcasting statistics for the Saudi Pro League are rather low. They are recruiting players from Europe in the hope that the biggest football market in the world turns its eyes to Saudi Arabia, but it is not as you say. India maybe, who knows maybe China, and that is all good because it makes them some money. But Al Nassr and more importantly the league had other hopes. The buzz has decreased and any other perception is delusional. India is good to have, but you want the subscriptions being sold where the most money is made.

Before Cristiano Ronaldo left, we didn't know much about the Saudi League but now we keep regular updates about the Saudi League. Saudi Arabia is successful in their plans. 

First, Cristiano Ronaldo was able to bring them into the league with an offer and it was one of the most important steps to introduce their league to the world court. Whenever there is news that cristiano ronaldo will play from now on for a club in saudi league then everyone started searching about this club through various search engines and people started following the games of this club regularly. There is hardly anyone who watches football now who does not know about Cristiano Ronaldo's club in the Saudi League. Saudi Arabia will buy more players from Europe in the future so that people follow their league regularly.

[wiss19]

It is a gradual process. First, the players will shift to the non-European leagues. Once that is done, gradually the fans will shift their allegiance as well. EPL still remains the most popular football league in the world. And that is because for many decades the best players in the world have participated in this league. If the Saudi Professional League wants to challenge the English Premier League, then it is going to take at least one decade to so that. That said, challenging the EPL is not on the agenda for the Saudis, AFAIK.

Despite having many negative thoughts and views as we are watching Saudi League and their vision about their change of domestic culture is going in right direction because they well aware about challenges and also having things which can bring better results they have done first job and it works for them as currently Saudi League is having magnificent increase in fan base in coming years things could increase, and their revenue could be also improved which will helps them for having more changes.

World Cup rights are also going to have good impact on their vision for changing culture and domestic system for bringing more tourists and sports in this region.

I've have read that apple is close to get the tv rights for the world cup.
This is werid but it can be a huge marketing for them, imagine if they do something like 1st person poing of view with the Apple vision pro and the global launch for later 2025.

It will be massive.

Gulf region influence and their market is important for all big players and if we have Apple then surely it's going to be massive, and they will be surely going to do things which will give them benefit and better exposure in market even many are feeling not good about Saudi Arab hosting FIFA World Cup, but we will be having another level of sports with their sources and mindset because they love changes, and they are also able to bring all required things with their sources.

[armanda90]

Before Cristiano Ronaldo left, we didn't know much about the Saudi League but now we keep regular updates about the Saudi League. Saudi Arabia is successful in their plans. 

First, Cristiano Ronaldo was able to bring them into the league with an offer and it was one of the most important steps to introduce their league to the world court. Whenever there is news that cristiano ronaldo will play from now on for a club in saudi league then everyone started searching about this club through various search engines and people started following the games of this club regularly. There is hardly anyone who watches football now who does not know about Cristiano Ronaldo's club in the Saudi League. Saudi Arabia will buy more players from Europe in the future so that people follow their league regularly.

Saudi Arabia have their own goals by recruiting Cristiano Ronaldo and several top players, right now Saudi Arabia have been success become the host for FIFA World Cup 2034 and keep defend for signing any top players until the World Cup will begin around ten years later. Many top players recruiting become ambassador for promoting Saudi Arabia as the host for World Cup 2034 and every season all Saudi Pro League teams will sign top and popular players.

No doubt with Cristiano Ronaldo effect joined Al Nassr make many people become popular with Saudi Pro League teams, I think invasion many top players have most influence from Cristiano Ronaldo but firstly high payment salary make many top players leave their top career with European club and accepting Saudi Arabia team's offer.