Sports

CASABLANCA, MOROCCO - AUGUST 20: In this handout image from Populous, digital renderings of the proposed Stade Hassan II stadium in Morocco, projected to be the largest football stadium in the world with 115,000 capacity are depicted on August 20, 2024 in Casablanca, Morocco. The stadium design is by Populous and Oulalou + Choi (Photo by Populous via Handout/Getty Images)

Morocco’s markets rise as World Cup spending fuels largest IPO in decades

Shares in SGTM jumped by 10% on Dec. 16 after the construction firm raised roughly $550 million from its IPO, underscoring demand in a market that has featured few new listings in recent years.

Iran’s forward #9 Mehdi Taremi looks on during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Asia zone qualifiers Group A football match between Iran and the North Korea at the Azadi Sports Complex in Tehran on June 10, 2025.

Iran’s World Cup players face US visa uncertainty over military service: What to know

The head of Iran’s soccer body said this week that some players might not receives visa to the US due to their military service.

A fan waves a Pride flag before the soccer match between the Seattle Sounders and the Portland Timbers at Lumen Field, on June 3, 2023, in Seattle, Washington.

Culture

World Cup: Iran fumes over LGBTQ+ themes as Jordan qualifies for first time

Morocco is hoping to build on its historic run in 2022, with Saudi Arabia, Egypt and others in the region similarly vying to build on recent successes.

Al Nassr Club were crowned champions of the 2024/25 Saudi Women’s Premier League for the third time, securing the title on April 23, 2025. Credit AWSN

Culture

AWSN predicts soaring Saudi Arabia demand for women’s sports apparel

All Women’s Sports Network, a television network founded by Hollywood actor Whoopi Goldberg at the end of 2024, is expected to launch in Saudi Arabia later this month.

Latest News

Lebanon’s citizenship offer for FIFA head sparks debate over equal rights

CHANDAN KHANNA/AFP via Getty Images

Culture

Match-fixing probe shakes Turkey's football as referees, executives detained

Leroy Aziz Sane of Galatasaray SK kicks the corner during the match. Galatasaray SK and FK Godo Glimt faced each other at UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD3. The match took place in Ali Sami Yen Rams Park Stadium on October 22, 2025. (Photo by Burak Basturk / Middle East Images via AFP) (Photo by BURAK BASTURK/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images)

NFL star Antonio Brown extradited from Dubai: What to know

Antonio Brown #84 of the Pittsburgh Steelers celebrates a touchdown during the second half against the New Orleans Saints at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on Dec. 23, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana.

United Arab Emirates

Maccabi Tel Aviv fans barred from UK soccer game over safety concerns

OPSHOT - Maccabi supporters wave yellow flags next to Israeli flags during the UEFA Europa League, League phase - Matchday 4, football match between Ajax Amsterdam and Maccabi Tel Aviv at the Johan-Cruijff stadium, in Amsterdam on November 7, 2024. (Photo by Robin van Lonkhuijsen / ANP / AFP) / Netherlands OUT (Photo by ROBIN VAN LONKHUIJSEN/ANP/AFP via Getty Images)

Tunisia's Ons Jabeur returns the ball to Belarus's Aryna Sabalenka during their women's singles semi-finals tennis match on the eleventh day of the 2023 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Lawn Tennis Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on July 13, 2023. (Photo by SEBASTIEN BOZON / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE (Photo by SEBASTIEN BOZON/AFP via Getty Images)

Tunisia's Ons Jabeur stuns Sabalenka, advances to Wimbledon's final

Jabeur is the only Arab and African professional tennis player to make it to a Wimbledon final.

Al-Monitor Staff

By Al-Monitor Staff

FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP via Getty Images

Saudi Public Investment Fund reports $11 billion loss for 2022

Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund reports its assets have risen from $676 billion to about $778 billion in 2022 in a rare gesture of transparency for the Gulf.

WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 11: Chief Operating Officer of the PGA Tour Ron Price arrives for a Senate Homeland Security Subcommittee on Investigations hearing examining the business deal between the PGA Tour and the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia's LIV Golf on Capitol Hill July 11, 2023 in Washington, DC. In early June, the PGA Tour and LIV Golf announced plans for a framework agreement to create a new global golf entity, which will be heavily funded by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund. (Photo by Dr

Congress grills PGA Tour on relationship with Saudi Arabia’s LIV Golf

US Senator Richard Blumenthal, who led the hearing on the deal between the Saudi Public Investment Fund and the US golf circuit, told Al-Monitor that many questions remain unanswered.

Patrick Baldwin #7 of Washington Wizards is defended by Ben Sheppard #26 of Indiana Pacers during the first quarter of a 2023 NBA Summer League game at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 08, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Candice Ward/Getty Images)

Qatar Investment Authority buys 5% of NBA's Washington Wizards owner

It is the first investment by a sovereign wealth fund in a US sport and the latest move by a Gulf state to increase its influence in sports.

Justin Rose of England and his caddy look on, on the 9th hole during Day Four of the Saudi International.

Saudi Arabia to launch new sports investment group: report

The Financial Times report follows the merger between the Saudi-funded LIV Golf and the PGA Tour, but challenges remain as the kingdom eyes investment in golf, tennis and possibly American football.

Zach LaVine (#8) of the Chicago Bulls goes up for a layup against Daniel Gafford (#21) of the Washington Wizards.

Analysis

After Saudi golf merger, will Qatar’s entry into NBA change US sports?

The Qatari Investment Authority’s bid to purchase stakes in Washington’s professional basketball and hockey teams could boost Qatar’s image and influence in the United States and coincides with similar moves by Saudi Arabia.

Adam Lucente

By Adam Lucente

In New York City, reporting on regional news, militancy, climate change

Man United Man City

Qatari royal could be overpaying by $3.16B for Manchester United

The sale has reportedly been delayed because of disagreements between the six siblings of the Glazer family, the current owners of the British soccer club.

Matthias Hangst/Getty Images

Bayern Munich, Qatar Airways end sponsorship deal after fan pressure

Fans of the German soccer champions have long-criticized the deal over concerns of Qatar's alleged human rights violations.

DOHA, QATAR - DECEMBER 15: A man looks out over the Doha skyline on The Corniche during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 on December 15, 2022 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)

Doha, Dubai ranked world’s top two cities for competitive job markets

The United Arab Emirates was the only country to have two cities on the top 10 list with both Dubai and the country’s capital Abu Dhabi at fifth.

Bradley Beal, #3 of the Washington Wizards, drives around Jared Rhoden, #8 of the Detroit Pistons.

Qatar to buy stake in Washington Wizards, Capitals: reports

The move follows the National Basketball Association allowing sovereign wealth funds to invest in teams and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund merging its LIV Golf league with the PGA Tour, demonstrating Gulf investors' interest in US sports.

N'Golo Kante

N’golo Kante transfers to Saudi’s Al-Ittihad, soccer club confirms

The 32-year-old Frenchman’s contract at Stamford Bridge expires at the end of June and he will join the Saudi side after on a three-year contract.

Justin Rose of England and his caddy look on.

US Justice Department investigating Saudi LIV Golf-PGA Tour merger: reports

The revelation follows action taken by some members of Congress in response to the Saudi sovereign wealth fund-backed golf league’s deal with the US-based PGA Tour.