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☆ Jordan Henderson: After six months in Saudi Arabia, England international has returned to European soccer
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-19 | by ( George Ramsay | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Soccer player Jordan Henderson has announced that he is returning to Europe to join Ajax, six months after making a controversial move to Saudi Arabia. Henderson makes a pass during the Saudi Pro League match between Al Ettifaq and Al Ittihad in November. Yasser Bakhsh/Getty ImagesHenderson’s move from Liverpool to Al-Ettifaq came under scrutiny given the midfielder’s previous support of LGBTQ rights. But in moving to Saudi Arabia – where same-sex sexual activity is an offense, according to Human Rights Watch – Henderson attracted criticism from LGBTQ campaign groups and the wider soccer community. He made 17 league appearances during his six months with Al Ettifaq, which is managed by Liverpool great Steven Gerrard.

Persons: Jordan Henderson, “, I’ve, Ettifaq, Samer Al Misehal, ”, “ Jordan, he’d, Saad Allazeez, Henderson, Al Ettifaq, Yasser Bakhsh, – Henderson, ” Henderson, Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, Steven Gerrard Organizations: CNN — Soccer, Ajax, England, Saudi Pro League, Al, Twitter, Jordan, ESPN, SPL, Stonewall, Saudi Arabia –, Human Rights, Liverpool, Athletic, Champions League, Premier League Locations: Europe, Saudi Arabia, Al Ittihad, Liverpool, Al

☆ Benzema tempted by Saudi Arabia's 'huge' football project
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

FILE PHOTO:Saudi Arabian soccer team Al Ittihad player Karim Benzema arrives in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, in this handout photo obtained by Reuters June 7, 2023. "When the football project started here, it seemed like a huge project in all respects, and I wanted to be a part of it and help advance the game in Saudi Arabia, and this is one of the reasons that made me come here," Benzema said in an interview with the Saudi Pro League, posted on messaging platform X. "Also, Saudi Arabia is a Muslim country and they welcomed me with open hands, and I felt loved immediately. I am really surprised by the level in Saudi Arabia because in Europe we don't watch a lot of football matches here," the 35-year-old added. "But now there are lots of people (in Europe) who are watching the Saudi league after many big names were brought in."

Persons: Karim Benzema, Benzema, N'Golo Kante, Fabinho, Jota, Ittihad, Al, Ahmed El Khashab, Hatem Maher, Ed Osmond Organizations: Saudi Arabian soccer, Al, Reuters, REUTERS, Real Madrid, Saudi Pro League, Real, Saudi, Thomson Locations: Saudi, Al Ittihad, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Handout, Al, Ittihad, Mecca, Europe, Hilal

☆ Neymar set for Saudi's Al Hilal after PSG agree deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-14 | by ( Fernando Kallas | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Summary Saudi state media report deal is doneTwo year deal would net Neymar $175 millionBrazilian joined PSG in 2017 for record 222 million eurosAug 14 (Reuters) - Brazil forward Neymar is headed for Saudi Arabia after Pro League side Al Hilal agreed a two-year deal with Paris St Germain, Saudi state media reported on Monday. Al Hilal, managed by Portuguese coach Jorge Jesus, play Al Fayha on Saturday with Neymar expected to wear the number 10 shirt. Al Hilal had tried to sign PSG's France international Kylian Mbappe, who was reinstated into the Paris club's first team on Sunday. Strengthening the squad is a priority for the Riyadh-based club, as the Saudi Public Investment Fund announced in June an investment and privatisation project for sports clubs involving league champions Al Ittihad, Al Ahli, Al Nassr and Al Hilal. Cristiano Ronaldo joined Al Nassr last season soon after the World Cup in a deal which made him the highest-paid athlete on the planet, while Al Ittihad signed Karim Benzema from Real Madrid.

Persons: Al Hilal, Neymar, Jorge Jesus, Al Fayha, Luis Enrique's, Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi, Al Nassr, Cristiano Ronaldo, Al Ittihad, Karim Benzema, Riyad Mahrez, Edouard Mendy, Roberto Firmino, Alan Baldwin, Shrivathsa Sridhar, Angelica Medina, Toby Chopra, Pritha Sarkar, Hugh Lawson Organizations: PSG, Saudi Arabia, Pro League, Al, Paris St, Ligue, Qatar Sports Investments, French, L'Equipe, Reuters, King Fahd, Barcelona, Lorient, Spanish, France, Kylian, Paris club's, Saudi, Major League Soccer's Inter Miami, Asian Champions League, Saudi Public Investment Fund, Al Ittihad, Saudi Pro League, Real Madrid, Champions, Thomson Locations: Saudi, Brazil, Paris St Germain, Paris, Riyadh, Portuguese, Spanish, Barcelona, Al, Saudi Arabia, Asia, Al Ahli, Real, London, Bengaluru, Mexico City

CNN —With some of the world’s leading soccer players being tempted by the money on offer from Saudi Arabian soccer clubs, the Saudi Pro League’s (SPL) new Director of Football, Michael Emenalo, says the Gulf state is “disrupting the industry, but we are disrupting to enhance. We’re adding value to the industry.”The Saudi Pro League consists of 18 clubs, four of which are 75% owned by the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) – one of the world’s top 10 sovereign wealth funds. Cristiano Ronaldo, N’golo Kanté, Riyad Mahrez and current Ballon d’Or holder Karim Benzema are just a few of players who have joined a variety of SPL clubs over the last few months. That’s true, but there is also a sensible, logical, thoughtful process to making the league better,” said the SPL’s new Director of Football. The new 2023/24 Saudi Pro League season begins on Friday, August 11, with Al-Ahli hosting Al-Hazm.

Persons: Michael Emenalo, Cristiano Ronaldo, N’golo, Riyad Mahrez, Ballon d’Or, Karim Benzema, Emenalo, Germain, Mbappé, Al Hilal’s, coy, ” Emenalo, Darren Lewis, “, that’s, he’s, Jurgen Klopp, Jordan Henderson, Fabinho, Al Ettifaq, Al Ittihad, ”, ” Michael Emenalo, Henderson, – it’s Organizations: CNN, Saudi Pro League’s, Football, Saudi Pro League, Saudi Public Investment Fund, Saudi, Al Hilal, Paris Saint, PSG, SPL, Liverpool, Saudi FA, Al Locations: Saudi Arabian, Gulf, France, Paris, Al Hilal, Saudi, Al, Liverpool, Turkey, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Mahrez, Ahli

☆ Cristiano Ronaldo says Saudi league is better than MLS following Lionel Messi’s move to Inter Miami
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( Matias Grez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —Cristiano Ronaldo has claimed the Saudi Arabian soccer league is better than Major League Soccer (MLS) just a day after long-time rival Lionel Messi completed his move to the US to play for Inter Miami. “The Saudi league is better than MLS,” Ronaldo said following Al Nassr’s 5-0 pre-season friendly defeat to Celta Vigo, Reuters reported. The 38-year-old said last month that any new signings for Saudi clubs would be “very welcome” to join him in the league. Since then, Karim Benzema, N’Golo Kante, Kalidou Koulibaly, Edouard Mendy and Roberto Firmino have been among the star names to move to the Saudi Pro League (SPL). Ronaldo also said he would never return to Europe to play soccer as the strength of the leagues are diminishing.

Persons: CNN — Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Messi, Germain, “, ” Ronaldo, Al Nassr’s, Al Nassr, Karim Benzema, N’Golo, Kalidou Koulibaly, Edouard Mendy, Roberto Firmino, Ronaldo, ”, Mike Ehrmann Organizations: CNN, Saudi Arabian, Major League Soccer, Inter Miami, Paris Saint, Saudi, MLS, Celta Vigo, Reuters, Manchester United, Saudi Pro League, ESPN, Premier League, SPL, Al Locations: Saudi, Saudi Arabia, Europe, Al Ittihad

☆ Pope Francis condemns burning of Koran - UAE newspaper
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

DUBAI, July 3 (Reuters) - Pope Francis said the burning of the Muslim holy book, the Koran, has made him angry and disgusted and that he condemned and rejected permitting the act as a form of freedom of speech. "Any book considered holy should be respected to respect those who believe in it," the pope said in an interview in the United Arab Emirates newspaper Al Ittihad, published on Monday. "Freedom of speech should never be used as a means to despise others and allowing that is rejected and condemned." While Swedish police have rejected several recent applications for anti-Koran demonstrations, courts have over-ruled those decisions, saying they infringed freedom of speech. Reporting by Maha Eldahan; Editing by Edmund Klamann and Raju GopalakrishnanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Pope Francis, Al Ittihad, Maha Eldahan, Edmund Klamann, Raju Gopalakrishnan Organizations: United Arab Emirates, Al, NATO, Swedish, Thomson Locations: DUBAI, Sweden's, Stockholm, Turkey, Sweden

[1/6] U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken looks on, as he attends a joint press conference with Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal Bin Farhan, at the Intercontinental Hotel in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, June 8, 2023. "And we’re also collaborating with countries in the region to widen and deepen the normalisation of relations with Israel." Saudi Arabia went the other way in April in restoring ties with Iran, its key regional rival and Israel's arch-enemy, in a Chinese-brokered deal. Other rows have simmered over the Saudi intervention in Yemen's devastating conflict, China ties and oil prices. Saudi Arabia and other OPEC states say the organisation is not politicised and only seeks to stabilise energy markets.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Faisal Bin Farhan, Ahmed Yosri, Jake Sullivan, Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, Karim Benzema, Blinken, we’re, Aziz Alghashian, Joe Biden's, Alghashian, Biden, Jamal Khashoggi, Blinken's, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Vladimir Putin, Aziz El Yaakoubi, Humeyra Pamuk, Maha El, Mark Heinrich Our Organizations: Saudi Foreign, Intercontinental, REUTERS, U.S, Saudi, White House, Crown, Gulf Cooperation Council, Al, Blinken, MbS, GCC, United Arab, Thomson Locations: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Saudi, Israel RIYADH, U.S, Iran, Washington's, Al, French, Jeddah, Al Ittihad, Yemen, Sudan, Israel, East, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Gulf, Israeli, Russia, China, Istanbul, OPEC, Ukraine

"I made the decision that I'm going to go to Miami," Messi said in an interview with Mundo Deportivo and Sport newspapers. Inter Miami are co-owned by former England captain David Beckham, who was one of the first major European stars to move to the United States to play in the MLS, winning the MLS Cup twice with Los Angeles Galaxy. PSG EXITOnce the crown jewel of European football, Messi has effectively been let go by two super clubs in two years -- for free. His move away from PSG, however, is of his own volition as he felt the French club lacked a project for the future while fan unrest only hastened his exit. The highs after winning Argentina's first World Cup in 36 years were quickly offset by the lows he experienced in Paris.

Persons: Lionel Messi, Paris St Germain, Messi, I'm, Cristiano Ronaldo, Al Nassr, Karim Benzema, David Beckham, Phil Neville, Rory Carroll, Rohith Nair, Amy Tennery, Janina Nuño Rios, Angelica Medina, Ed Osmond, Toby Davis Organizations: Wednesday, Major League Soccer, Inter Miami, Paris St, PSG, Spanish, Mundo Deportivo, Sport, Ligue, French, U.S, Reuters, Adidas, Apple, MLS, Al, Los Angeles Galaxy, Eastern, Barcelona, Qatar Sports Investments, League, Thomson Locations: ANGELES, snubbing, Saudi Arabia, Barcelona, Miami, Europe, South Florida, Argentine, Spanish, Argentina, Qatar, Barca, Saudi Arabian, Al, Hilal, Al Ittihad, United States, Paris, Los Angeles, Bengaluru, New York, Mexico City

☆ Saudi champions Al Ittihad sign 'global football icon' Benzema
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-06 | by ( Fernando Kallas | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Benzema, who ended a trophy-laden 14 years at Real this week, joins the Saudi Arabian champions on a three-year deal and will wear the number nine shirt. I have been fortunate to achieve amazing things in my career and achieve everything I can in Spain and Europe," Benzema said. I am looking forward to joining my new team mates and, together with them, help take this amazing club and the game in Saudi Arabia to new levels." Al-Ittihad last month clinched the Saudi Pro League title for the first time since 2009. "Benzema's arrival is the most impactful transfer in the club's history to date," Al Ittihad said in a statement.

Persons: Ballon, Karim Benzema, Al, Benzema, Cristiano Ronaldo, Al Nassr, Ronaldo, Didier Deschamps, Mathieu Valbuena, Lionel Messi, Al Ittihad's, Anmar Alhailae, Karim, Osama Khairy, Aziz El Yaakoubi, Mohamed Yossri, Aadi Nair, Rohith Nair, Toby Davis, Ken Ferris Organizations: Al Ittihad, Real, Saudi, Olympique Lyonnais, Juventus, League, Saudi Pro League, SAUDI FOOTBALL, Reuters, Al, Benzema, Thomson Locations: Saudi Arabia, Real Madrid, Saudi Arabian, Spain, Europe, Portugal, France, Qatar, Ittihad, Portuguese, Al Ittihad, Argentina, Hilal

☆ Benzema bids farewell to Real Madrid as he heads to Saudi Arabia
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-06 | by ( Fernando Kallas | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MADRID, June 6 (Reuters) - Ballon d'Or winner Karim Benzema said farewell to Real Madrid in a small, private ceremony closed to fans and media on Tuesday following a trophy-laden 14-year stay with the LaLiga club. "I will never forget Real Madrid. "It's difficult to talk with so many feelings, but I wanted to thank Real Madrid and my team mates. Benzema scored 354 goals for Real to sit second on the club's all-time scoring list behind Ronaldo. Real Madrid president Florentino Perez praised Benzema for all he had done at the club.

Persons: Ballon, Karim Benzema, Benzema, Cristiano Ronaldo, Ronaldo, Zinedine Zidane, Florentino Perez, Karim, Perez, Fernando Kallas, Christian Radnedge Organizations: Real Madrid, Real, Olympique Lyonnais, Juventus, Frenchman, Thomson Locations: MADRID, Saudi Arabian, Al Ittihad, Madrid

☆ Is Karim Benzema about to be the first of many soccer superstars to join Cristiano Ronaldo in Saudi Arabia?
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-05 | by ( Nadeen Ebrahim | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —French soccer player Karim Benzema has played his last game for Real Madrid and may soon be joining the great Cristiano Ronaldo in Saudi Arabia. Saudi’s state-run Ekhbariya news on Sunday reported that Benzema and the Saudi Al Ittihad club had reached an agreement on a two-season contract. The Frenchman could be the first of many established star names to join Ronaldo in the Saudi Pro League next season. In an interview with the Saudi Pro League, Ronaldo last week said that he was happy in Saudi Arabia and encouraged other players to join him. According to Saudi state-owned media, Ronaldo will earn an estimated $200 million a year, making him the world’s highest-paid soccer player.

Persons: Karim Benzema, Cristiano Ronaldo, Benzema, Fabrizio Romano, “, Al, ”, ” Romano, Ballon, Carlo Ancelotti, ” Benzema, Frenchman, Ronaldo, Al Nassr, Lionel Messi –, –, Karim Djaziri Organizations: CNN, Real Madrid, Saudi Al, Sunday, Twitter, Saudi, Spanish, Ronaldo, Saudi Pro League Locations: French, Saudi Arabia, Saudi, Saudi Al Ittihad, Italian, Al Ittihad, Spain, Al Hilal

☆ Benzema's Real exit 'surprise to everyone', says Ancelotti
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/3] Soccer Football - LaLiga - Real Madrid v Athletic Bilbao - Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain - June 4, 2023 Real Madrid players throw Karim Benzema in the air after the match REUTERS/Juan MedinaJune 5 (Reuters) - Karim Benzema's decision to leave Real Madrid after 14 trophy-laden years was a surprise, manager Carlo Ancelotti said, but insisted that the Ballon d'Or winner has earned the right to choose. The 35-year-old striker will exit Real as a free agent in the close season, with the Frenchman linked with a big-money move to Saudi Arabian side Al Ittihad. "His departure has come as a surprise to everyone, but it has to be understood. It was a last-minute decision," Ancelotti told reporters after Real's clash against Athletic Bilbao. He's earned the right to choose, and we all thank him for everything he's done for this club.

Persons: Karim Benzema, Juan Medina, Karim Benzema's, Carlo Ancelotti, Ballon, Frenchman, Ancelotti, Benzema, Cristiano Ronaldo, Ronaldo, I've, He's, he'll, Real, Eden Hazard, Marco Asensio, Mariano Diaz, Florentino Perez, Pearl Josephine Nazare, Jacqueline Wong Organizations: Soccer, Real Madrid, Athletic Bilbao, Santiago Bernabeu, REUTERS, Bilbao, Sunday, Bernabeu, Atletico Madrid, Real, Olympique Lyonnais, Juventus, Thomson Locations: Real, Madrid, Spain, Saudi Arabian, Al Ittihad, Bengaluru

☆ Benzema leaves Real Madrid after 14 years at club
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-04 | by ( Fernando Kallas | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

MADRID, June 4 (Reuters) - Ballon d'Or winner Karim Benzema will leave Real Madrid as a free agent in the close season after 14 trophy-laden years, the LaLiga club said on Sunday, with the striker set to move to Saudi Arabian side Al Ittihad. Saudi Arabia's state-run Al Ekhbariya television station reported that Al Ittihad had reached an agreement with Benzema on a two-year contract, with club officials in Madrid to hammer out a "record deal" with the striker. "Real Madrid and our captain Karim Benzema have agreed to bring his brilliant and unforgettable time as a player at our club to a close," the club said in a statement. "Karim Benzema's career at Real Madrid has been a shining example of conduct and professionalism, and he has represented the values of our club." Benzema scored more than 350 goals for Real to sit second on the club's all-time scoring list behind Ronaldo.

Persons: Ballon, Karim Benzema, Al, Al Ittihad, Frenchman, Karim Benzema's, Cristiano Ronaldo, Al Nassr, REAL'S, Benzema, Ronaldo, Real, Zinedine Zidane, del, Benzema's, Eden Hazard, Marco Asensio, Mariano Diaz, Florentino Perez, Fernando Kallás, Rohith Nair, Ahmed Tolba, Hugh Lawson, Clare Fallon Organizations: Real Madrid, Benzema, Madrid, Real, Olympique Lyonnais, Juventus, Champions League, Paris St Germain, Manchester City, Frenchman, Thomson Locations: MADRID, Saudi Arabian, Al Ittihad, Saudi Arabia's, Madrid, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Portugal, Chelsea, del Rey, Bengaluru, Cairo

☆ Benzema scores on farewell but Real held at home by Bilbao
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

MADRID, June 4 (Reuters) - Real Madrid's Karim Benzema netted a penalty in his final LaLiga game at the Bernabeu but was unable to inspire them to victory as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Athletic Bilbao on Sunday. Real held onto second place despite the draw, as 10-man Atletico Madrid were held 2-2 at Villarreal following Jorge Pascual's 92nd-minute equaliser. Diego Simeone's side finished the season with 77 points, one behind local rivals Real. Osasuna secured a spot in the Europa Conference League, beating Girona 2-1 to finish seventh, two points above Bilbao. Reporting by Aadi Nair in Nashik, India; Editing by Ken FerrisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Karim Benzema, Real, Ballon, Benzema, Thibaut Courtois, Mikel Vesga, Sancet, Eder Militao, Yuri Berchiche, Jorge Pascual's, Diego Simeone's, Aadi Nair, Ken Ferris Organizations: Bernabeu, Athletic Bilbao, Bilbao, Real, Atletico Madrid, Villarreal, Osasuna, Europa Conference League, Girona, Thomson Locations: MADRID, Saudi Arabian, Al Ittihad, Bilbao's, Bilbao, Nashik, India

☆ Cristiano Ronaldo ‘happy’ in Saudi Arabia, wants other players to join him
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-02 | by ( ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Cristiano Ronaldo concedes he did not expect to finish the season empty-handed at Al Nassr but the Portuguese forward says he is happy in Saudi Arabia and hopes other big-name players will follow him to the league for the next campaign. Ronaldo signed a two-and-a-half year contract estimated by media to be worth more than 200 million euros ($220.16 million) with Al Nassr, making his debut in January. Ronaldo scored 14 goals during his first season with Al Nassr. AFP/Getty ImagesSince Ronaldo’s arrival, several other top players have been linked with a move to the Saudi league, with Lionel Messi receiving a formal offer to join Al-Hilal next season. “If they are coming, big players and big names, young players, ‘old players’, they are very welcome,” said Ronaldo.

Persons: Cristiano Ronaldo, Nassr, Ronaldo, Al Nassr, Al Ittihad, Ahmed Yosri, ” Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Ronaldo’s, Ballon d’Or, Karim Benzema, ”, “ Organizations: Saudi Pro League, Al, Manchester United, Juventus, Real, Getty, Saudi Locations: Portuguese, Saudi Arabia, Europe, Real Madrid, “, AFP, Hilal, Al Ittihad

☆ Ronaldo 'happy' in Saudi Arabia, wants other top players to join him
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Ronaldo signed a 2-1/2 year contract estimated by media to be worth more than 200 million euros ($220.16 million) with Al Nassr, making his debut in January. He scored 14 goals in 16 games but it was not enough to help his side win the Saudi Pro League (SPL) title, with Al Nassr finishing second behind Al Ittihad. "We have very good teams, very good Arab players, but the infrastructure - they need to improve a little bit more. Since Ronaldo's arrival, several other top players have been linked with a move to the Saudi league, with Lionel Messi receiving a formal offer to join Al-Hilal next season. "If they are coming, big players and big names, young players, 'old players', they are very welcome," said Ronaldo.

Persons: Cristiano Ronaldo, Nassr, Ronaldo, Al Nassr, Lionel Messi, Ronaldo's, Ballon, Karim Benzema, Rohith Nair, Peter Rutherford Organizations: Saudi Pro League, Al, Manchester United, Juventus, Real Madrid, Saudi, Thomson Locations: Portuguese, Saudi Arabia, Al Ittihad, Europe, Hilal, Bengaluru

☆ Ronaldo's Saudi switch another symbol of Chinese decline
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-29 | by ( Michael Church | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The Portuguese striker's Saudi Arabia switch following the cancellation of his Manchester United contract has highlighted a shift within Asian football that started before the COVID-19 pandemic and which continues to have a significant impact. With money pouring into clubs often owned by debt-fuelled property developers, the Chinese Super League (CSL) had been enticing an increasing number of leading players and coaches to the country since early last decade. The downturn in Chinese football has spared few. Two-time Asian champions Guangzhou FC, once Chinese football's dominant force, went into decline after their owners, developers China Evergrande, were forced to limit funding after the government restricted borrowing. With attention now squarely focused on the oil-funded riches on offer in a newly assertive Saudi Arabia, Chinese football's lustre has all but disappeared.

☆ Qatar relying on playmaker Afif to pull the strings
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-02 | by ( Andrew Mills | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

DOHA, Nov 2 (Reuters) - Qatar's main playmaker Akram Afif is perhaps the World Cup host country's greatest asset and worry wrapped up in one. During the Asia Cup tournament in 2019, which Qatar won, Afif's assists supplied most of the nine record-setting goals Almoaz Ali scored. The moves that Afif sets up are so critical to Qatar's success that if something goes awry and Afif is not on the pitch everything could unravel. Afif was born in the Gulf Arab state where his Tanzanian-born father of Somali descent was playing for prominent local club Al Ittihad. The Qatar World Cup is Afif's big opportunity to play on the world stage and, perhaps, to draw the attention of scouts and clubs beyond the Gulf Arab state, Hashim said.

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