Mexico and Saudi Arabia, the same passion for the 2022 World Cup

The Qatar 2022 World Cup is here and the Saudi enthusiasm is evident. We often hear that “soccer is the most popular sport on the planet”. Its crowd-drawing power is found in different corners of the world, and Saudi Arabia is no exception, as it is in other Middle Eastern countries.

Although little is known in Mexico about the sports activities that are practiced in the largest country on the Arabian Peninsula, without a doubt soccer is the one that captures the most attention from its nationals. Beyond the traditional sports played in the country – including falconry, camel and horse racing – other modern sports hold an important place in Saudi daily life and are a source of national pride, including golf, weightlifting, canoeing or handball.

In recent years the Saudi government has made a visible effort to promote the sport and make it accessible to the public. More investment is being made in athletes and the number of facilities across the Kingdom have increased for its nationals to exercise regularly or enjoy spectator sports.

A few weeks ago, for example, the Saudi Games opened in Riyadh, a national competition between clubs to discover new talent, including Paralympians, in 45 sports. The event was similar to the Olympic Games and the enthusiasm of the new generations was manifested in all the competitions.

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fassad@sre.gob.mx