Saudi Arabia Backs Infantino Amid FIFA Financing Crisis

Saudi Arabia, the host of the 2034 World Cup, has publicly backed FIFA President Gianni Infantino amid a month-long crisis over his failed plan to bring private financing into the tournament. The Saudi Arabian Football Federation issued a statement on Thursday, August 27, 2026, expressing support for Infantino's efforts to restore unity in football, a significant move that breaks with the critical stance taken by the Asian Football Confederation. The crisis began in late July when FIFA revealed a proposal to create a commercial subsidiary, the FIFA Forward Enterprise, which would have allowed private investors to acquire a stake in the rights to major tournaments like the World Cup.