Das Areias ao Gramado: o investimento estratégico do Reino da Arábia Saudita no futebol como forma de perpetrar o sportwashing

Abstract

Soccer has undoubtedly become one of the most popular sports in the world, promoting a universal language that unites people in a single goal shout. In this sense, soccer has also become a space for expression beyond the pitch, as it spills over into areas that, at first glance, are not related, such as politics and social dynamics. However, from a closer look at the repercussions of this sporting practice, this study demonstrates the possibility of soccer being strategically used to achieve political objectives that involve not only the domestic scenario, but also the international one. This type of dynamic touches on the concept of sportswashing, which is the strategic use of sport to clean up a country's international reputation without actually worrying about the sport itself, turning soccer into a vehicle for projecting a positive image, masking possible controversy or criticism. It is in this sense that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has a development plan known as Saudi Arabia Vision 2030, which, aware of the country's dependence on non-renewable natural energy resources, injects capital into soccer, demonstrating major financial movements in the international soccer market. From an International Relations perspective, the aim is to understand how the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's investments in this sport can reveal a political strategy, be it to diversify the economy and/or polish the country's international image.