FIFA has organized an expanded Club World Cup for the first time with 32 participants, hosted by the USA. The tournament started a week before the final on July 13. The highest paid footballers in this competition are players from the Saudi club Al Hilal, whose contracts and salaries surpass even the biggest global stars like Messi, Haaland, and Kane. Kalidou Koulibaly earns the highest salary of 34 million euros annually, while Aleksandar Mitrović and Sergej Milinković-Savić earn 24.5 million euros each. This situation highlights the financial power of Saudi clubs and a new reality in world football.
Political Perspectives:
Left: Left-leaning sources emphasize the growing financial inequalities in football, highlighting how Saudi clubs use vast financial resources to attract top players, which may undermine the competitive balance and traditional football values.
Center: Center-leaning sources report the facts about the expanded FIFA Club World Cup and the salaries of players, focusing on the tournament’s scale and the financial impact of Saudi investments without strong judgment.
Right: Right-leaning sources tend to highlight the success and ambition of Saudi clubs in reshaping global football, viewing the financial power as a positive development that challenges European dominance and brings new opportunities.
