Saudi Arabia Eyes Mo Salah, Debates Winter World Cup for 2034

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — Saudi Arabia’s sports minister, Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki al-Faisal, has expressed his desire to bring Liverpool star Mohamed Salah to the Saudi Pro League, while also revealing ongoing discussions with FIFA about hosting a winter World Cup in 2034.

In an interview aired on Piers Morgan Uncensored on Thursday night, Prince Abdulaziz confirmed that Salah, whose contract with Liverpool expires this summer, is a top target for Saudi clubs. “Definitely, because if he ticks all the right boxes, even for us, we’d love to have him,” he said. “We feel like we are one with the Egyptians, from our culture and our history and so on. So to have Mo Salah or other players that are good role models would be a pleasure and a privilege to have in the Saudi League.”

However, the minister emphasized that any potential transfer would depend on negotiations between clubs. Salah, who has been in stellar form for Liverpool this season, stated on January 3 that his representatives and the club were “far away from any progress” on a new deal.

Prince Abdulaziz also addressed Saudi Arabia’s bid to host the 2034 World Cup, revealing that discussions with FIFA about scheduling the tournament in winter are ongoing. “That’s a debate that we’re still having with FIFA, and I’m sure that the ultimate goal would be: ‘What would be the best experience for the fans to come and attend?’” he said.

He pointed to the success of Qatar’s winter World Cup in 2022, which required European leagues to take a mid-season break. “Everyone went on with their business, and it didn’t affect anyone in a big way,” he noted. “Some actually claimed that the matches were actually better at that time, because it was in the beginning of the season, and the athletes were at their peak performance instead of at the end of the season.”

When asked about the final decision on the tournament’s timing, Prince Abdulaziz remained noncommittal. “Honestly, I don’t know. We still have a long way to decide on that, and a lot could change in the next 10 years, even with leagues and so on,” he said.

Saudi Arabia’s push to attract global football stars and host major tournaments is part of its broader strategy to position itself as a hub for international sports. The country has already secured high-profile signings, including Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar, for its domestic league.