Sports

Bryson DeChambeau of Crushers GC plays his shot from the 17th tee prior to LIV Golf Mexico City at Club de Golf Chapultepec on April 15, 2026, in Mexico City.

What LIV Golf’s woes suggest about Saudi Arabia’s economic headwinds

The Golf league, which is backed by the Saudi sovereign wealth fund, is saying its season will go on after reports of an imminent collapse.

This photo taken on March 8, 2026 shows Iranian players running towards their positions at the start of the AFC Women's Asian Cup Australia 2026 football match between Iran and the Philippines on the Gold Coast.

Trump praises Australia for aiding Iran women’s soccer team amid asylum calls

Pressure is growing on Australia to allow the athletes to stay after a commentator threatened them over their refusal to sing the national anthem amid the war.

SAN ANTONIO, TX - JANUARY 03: Deni Avdija #8 of the Portland Trailblazers drives over the San Antonio Spurs in the second half at Frost Bank Center on January 3, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images)

Culture

Israeli, Turkish stars named to NBA All-Star World team: What to know

Deni Avdija and Alperen Sengun are making their first appearances in the premier basketball league’s all-star game as the sport’s profile in the Middle East grows.

Aerial view of Riyadh at night with illuminated modern skyscrapers and busy streets under a clear dark sky, Al Olaya street.

Analysis

Saudi Arabia downsizes megaprojects, chases cash amid AI push

After years of breakneck spending, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s flagship plan to diversify the oil-dependent economy — dubbed Vision 2030 — is facing a fresh round of delays and recalibration as softer oil prices squeeze public finances and force tougher choices.

Samuel Wendel

By Samuel Wendel , Jack Dutton

Latest News

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

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)

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

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.

Culture

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

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

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

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

Football players enter the pitch as the stands are seen empty after the decision of the Saudi Ministry of Sports, following an outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), during the Saudi Professional League soccer match between AL-Hilal and Al-Ettifaq at King Saud University Stadium, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia March 7, 2020. Picture taken March 7, 2020. REUTERS/Ahmed Yosri - RC2MFF9J8T68

Saudi soccer to resume this summer

Matches will resume with health measures in place, after they had stopped in March due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Workers walk towards the construction site of the Lusail stadium which will be build for the upcoming 2022 Fifa soccer World Cup during a stadium tour in Doha, Qatar, December 20, 2019. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach - RC2XYD9VDZOB

Qatar’s World Cup organizers accused of not paying migrant workers

Human rights organization Amnesty International said roughly 100 employees of a Qatari subcontractor went up to seven months without receiving salaries.

Maccabi fans cheer for their team prior to the second leg of the Europa league second round qualifier football match between Maccabi Haifa and RC Strasbourg at the Sammy Hofer stadium in Haifa on August 1, 2019. (Photo by Jack GUEZ / AFP) (Photo credit should read JACK GUEZ/AFP via Getty Images)

Israeli soccer fans dream of returning to stadiums

Israeli soccer players have resumed training sessions and might even play again, but the fans are still kept away from the stadiums.

Egypt withdraws from FIFA online friendlies

Two Egyptian soccer players have withdrawn from the FIFA eNations StayAndPlay Friendlies, over Israel’s participation.

Soccer Football - Super Lig - Galatasaray v Besiktas - Turk Telekom Stadium, Istanbul, Turkey - March 15, 2020 Besiktas' Victor Ruiz in action as the match is played behind closed doors as the number of coronavirus cases grow around the world REUTERS/Umit Bektas - RC2GKF9C7ZHA

Turkish soccer to welcome back players — but not fans

Turkey's professional soccer teams will begin playing in empty stadiums in June, the Turkish Football Federation president said Wednesday.

Soccer Football - Premier League - Coronavirus impact on the Premier League - St James' Park, Newcastle, Britain - March 14, 2020 General view outside St James' Park as the Premier League is suspended due to the number of coronavirus cases growing around the world REUTERS/Scott Heppell EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/le

Saudi bid for English Premier League soccer team has support of fans, opposition of human rights advocates

The reported effort by the state-run Saudi Public Investment Fund to buy the Newcastle United football club has prompted an opposition campaign by human rights organizations.

Culture & Society

Amedspor players (L) stand still to protest Turkish Football Federation after the kick-off their Turkish Cup quarter final first leg soccer match against Fenerbahce in the Kurdish-dominated southeastern city of Diyarbakir, Turkey February 9, 2016. Two rival Turkish football teams stood defiantly behind a banner urging peace on Tuesday before playing a surreal quarter final match to an empty stadium in Turkey's conflict-ridden southeast following a ban on spectators for chanting political slogans. The confli

Turkish soccer team lands in political hot water

The soccer team of Turkey’s largest Kurdish-majority city has become the target of nationalist animosity from rival fans as well as the government, which accuses the club of being linked to armed Kurdish militants.

Gaza's female softball players in league of their own

Baseball and softball fever is sweeping Gaza, where women and girls are learning to swing.

Meet the dismissed sports host who challenged Iran’s state TV

Popular sports host Adel Ferdosipour, who recently witnessed his show being taken off the air by hardliners in the state TV, has now launched a new show on the internet.

Egypt launches program in search of the next Mo Salah

The Egyptian government has signed a five-year agreement with a sports development company to identify and nurture youths with the potential to excel at professional sports.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - AUGUST 04: Arslan ‘Arslan Ash’ Siddique of vSlash eSports celebrates after winning the Tekken 7 grand championship during day three of the 2019 Evolution Championship Series at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino on August 04, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Joe Buglewicz/Getty Images)

Pakistan penetrates top esports gaming echelon, giving hope to Mideast players

Players from areas not previously well known for esports areas are making names for themselves, providing encouragement to would-be champions in the Middle East.

Iranian women cheer at soccer game, finally

For the first time since 1981, Iranian women got unrestricted access to a soccer stadium as they watch the national team beat Cambodia 14-0.