How Saudi Arabia’s sporting surge adds spark to AFCON 2025
Saudi Arabia’s strategic investment in football, exemplified by its Roshn Saudi League hosting top African talent, is reshaping the global sports landscape by using the sport as a tool for infrastructure, diplomacy, and soft power. This influence is vividly on display at AFCON 2025, where 14 RSL-based players are competing, effectively making the tournament a showcase for Saudi Arabia’s growing role in the elite talent pipeline. The event also highlights a broader shift, as both host Morocco (co-host for



