Why are Saudi Arabia playing in the Concacaf Gold Cup?
The Concacaf Gold Cup is a biennial international tournament usually featuring teams from North and Central America and the Caribbean. But in the 2025 edition, Saudi Arabia are taking part.Saudi Arabia's participation in both 2025 and 2027 was confirmed in December 2024, alongside acknowledgment of a plan for collaboration off the pitch."We are very pleased that through our relationship with the Asian Football Confederation we have been able to collaborate with the Saudi Arabian Football Federation and their president Yasser Al-Misehal, both on and off the pitch," Concacaf president Victor Montagliani said in the official press release."We look forward to welcoming one of Asia's top men's national teams to compete with the best in Concacaf."Earlier in 2024, Concacaf had announced an investment deal with Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) - also owners of Newcastle United, LIV Golf, and a stake in the McLaren Formula 1 team - which will bring an influx of money over multiple years.Extensive PIF branding is visible in and around stadiums used for Gold Cup matches.At the time the deal was announced, Montagliani said: "We are very pleased to announce this new strategic partnership which will support the confederation in developing all levels of football across our region."It was described as "sportswashing" by Human Rights Watch.Saudi Arabia sports minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal told BBC Sport in 2023 its unprecedented investment in sport was to help inspire a youthful population to take up physical activity and exercise, open the country up to the international community, boost tourism, create jobs and provide sports federations with growth potential.
Why does the Gold Cup invite guest teams to play?
The Gold Cup was expanded from 12 to 16 teams from the 2019 edition.Though Concacaf has 41 member nations, it has invited non-member teams to participate in the past.The quality of many of the lower-ranked Concacaf national teams is not high, so guest teams have been used to make it more competitive.The practice was common in the 1990s and early 2000s, before being shelved. It was brought back when Qatar were invited to play in the 2021 and 2023 editions.In total, eight non-Concacaf teams have participated in the Gold Cup. They are: Brazil (1996, 1998, 2003)Colombia (2000, 2003, 2005)Ecuador (2002)Peru (2000)Qatar (2021, 2023)South Africa (2005)South Korea (2000, 2002)Saudi Arabia (2025, 2027)Of those teams, only Brazil have reached the final - losing 1-0 to Mexico in 1996.Qatar reached the semi-finals in 2021 after South Korea did likewise in 2002.Only Mexico, the USA and Canada have won the the Gold Cup since its inaugural edition in 1991. Mexico have won on nine occasions, the USA seven, and Canada only once.This article is the latest from BBC Sport's Ask Me Anything team.
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