Sign in
It’s a particularly busy morning for the Kingdom in the global press, with Saudi’s selection as the host of the 2034 World Cup driving the conversation.
The line in the Western press has been predictable, with NBC News serving as spokesidiot for the class as it notes that the selection “drew criticism from human rights groups,” while CNN takes it a step further, saying rights groups are warning that the tournament will come at an “unimaginable human cost.” Meanwhile, US public broadcaster NPR dubs it a “controversial pick.”
(** Tap or click the headline above to read this story with all of the links to our background and outside sources.)
Writing with more balance, Skift asks what the hosting rights will mean for tourism here, the Financial Times has a deep look at the ins and outs of the bid, and the NYT’s The Athletic asks, “Might Saudi Arabia actually be a good choice for a men’s World Cup?”
MEANWHILE- Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman reportedly met President-elect Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, in Riyadh on Wednesday in the first official face-to-face between the Crown Prince and the incoming Trump administration, Axios reports citing sources familiar with the meeting. The discussions centred on US-Saudi relations, the Gaza war, and a potential Saudi normalization pact with Israel.
IN CONTEXT: Trump is reportedly eager to secure a normalization accord between Saudi Arabia and Israel during his term, after a previous Biden-led effort that would have also included US security assurances to Riyadh, as well as cooperation on nuclear technologies and AI fell through due to the outbreak of the War in Gaza. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia insists on assurances for a credible path to Palestinian statehood before normalizing ties with Israel.
ALSO WORTH A READ- ‘China on Steroids’: A Saudi Path to a Peaceful, modern Middle East, by Matthew Kaminski for Politico Magazine. Kaminski was founding editor of Politico Europe.
