Power Shifts in Global Soccer: How Saudi Arabia and the United States are Challenging European Dominance

The world's most popular sport, soccer, has witnessed the transfer of some of its greatest stars from European clubs to the United States and Saudi Arabia. In July 2023, Lionel Messi left the French top club Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) to join Inter Miami in the Major League Soccer (MLS). Similarly, Cristiano Ronaldo transferred from Manchester United to Al Nassr at the end of 2022, which sparked a plethora of other star players in the summer of 2023 to join the Saudi Pro League, including Benzema from Real Madrid, Neymar from PSG, and Kante from Chelsea. This article discusses how the European center of global men's soccer is challenged by wealthy club owners in the United States and state-backed clubs in the Arabian Gulf.