Saudi Arabia wants to learn from Japanese soccer's 'commercial success'

2034 World Cup host has big hopes for its sports industry

20240417 saudi football

Saudi Arabian football players line up during the national anthems before a World Cup qualifier in Jeddah on Oct. 10, 2024. © Reuters

SHUNTARO FUKUTOMI and NATSUMI KAWASAKI

April 19, 2025 18:10 JST

DUBAI/TOKYO -- Saudi Arabia is reaching out to Japan as part of a high-profile, big-money effort to make sports a pillar of a more diverse economy.

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