Investment in the ecosystem of training facilities and the wider sporting infrastructure may improve the chances available to Saudis, although progress may only become apparent over many years. @kristianulrichsen.bsky.social agsi.org/analysis/sau...

Saudi Arabia Reflects on Underwhelming World Cup - AGSI

Following Saudi Arabia’s early exit from the World Cup, the kingdom’s soccer authorities may enter a period of introspection considering challenges that have cast a shadow over the post-2023…

agsi.org

An excellent and entertaining read by @kristianulrichsen.bsky.social Unlike this World Cup, it won't disappoint at all! ⚽️

Following Saudi Arabia’s early exit from the World Cup, the kingdom’s soccer authorities may enter a period of introspection considering challenges that have cast a shadow over the post-2023 landscape of Saudi soccer. @kristianulrichsen.bsky.social agsi.org/analysis/sau...

Saudi Arabia Reflects on Underwhelming World Cup - AGSI

Following Saudi Arabia’s early exit from the World Cup, the kingdom’s soccer authorities may enter a period of introspection considering challenges that have cast a shadow over the post-2023…

agsi.org

GROUP H 🇪🇸Spain: @spaincivilwartours.bsky.social's 'Travels through the Spanish Civil War' . 🇨🇻 Malyn Newitt's'Cabo Verde & the Creole South Atlantic' by . 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia: @kristianulrichsen.bsky.social's 'Kingdom of Football' . 🇺🇾 Uruguay: @shafikmeghji.bsky.social ’s ‘Small Earthquakes’

Tomorrow: Kingdom of Football: Saudi Arabia and the World Cup with Kristian Coates Ulrichsen @kristianulrichsen.bsky.social and Ahmed Al Omran @alomran.me, moderated by Kristin Smith Diwan. Join us. agsi.org/events/kingd...

Kingdom of Football: Saudi Arabia and the World Cup - AGSI

On June 10, AGSI will host a discussion on Saudi Arabia's growing engagement in the global soccer community.

agsi.org

As someone born and raised in Athens who studies the Middle East, words alone cannot describe how much this book resonated. Every page had something new. It’s a book I wish I had written myself.

For the first time since the 1990-91 Iraqi occupation of Kuwait, a regional crisis affects all six states simultaneously (albeit unevenly), but it remains to be seen whether the different interplay of interests leads them to respond separately. @kristianulrichsen.bsky.social

Gulf States Adjust to a New Normal - AGSI

Gulf capitals are facing immediate policy choices around how to restore order in a regional setting that is greatly changed – for the worse – as a result of the Iran war.

agsi.org

All too predictable, as I wrote for AGSI back in January. ‘heightened uncertainty over what line may be crossed next, such as the targeting of energy and other critical infrastructure vulnerabilities, including desalination plants, or severe disruption to shipping in the Gulf.’

AGSI@gulfstatesinst.bsky.social · 4mo ago

The scale of the targeting of civilian and energy infrastructure, in addition to the network of military facilities hosting U.S. forces, has arguably exceeded the base-case scenarios of Iranian responses. @kristianulrichsen.bsky.social

'Having accurately assessed the risk/reward balance of military action against Iran prior to the February 28 start of the conflict and calculated their own vulnerability of being caught in the middle, there is no satisfaction in being proved right.' My latest ⬇️

AGSI@gulfstatesinst.bsky.social · 4mo ago

More than two months into a war that the Gulf Arab states long sought to avoid, the weeks of conflict and fragile cease-fire have revealed a series of hard truths and strategic dilemmas for regional leaders as they begin to chart a path forward. @kristianulrichsen.bsky.social

More than two months into a war that the Gulf Arab states long sought to avoid, the weeks of conflict and fragile cease-fire have revealed a series of hard truths and strategic dilemmas for regional leaders as they begin to chart a path forward. @kristianulrichsen.bsky.social

Gulf States Adjust to a New Normal - AGSI

Gulf capitals are facing immediate policy choices around how to restore order in a regional setting that is greatly changed – for the worse – as a result of the Iran war.

agsi.org

“Having accurately assessed the risk/reward balance of military action against Iran prior to the Feb 28 start of the conflict and calculated their own vulnerability of being caught in the middle there is no satisfaction in being proved right.” @kristianulrichsen.bsky.social agsi.org/analysis/gul...

Gulf States Adjust to a New Normal - AGSI

Gulf capitals are facing immediate policy choices around how to restore order in a regional setting that is greatly changed – for the worse – as a result of the Iran war.

agsi.org

Do listen to this very timely podcast

Adam Leventhal@adamleventhal.bsky.social · 4mo ago

"We've never had a situation where a World Cup host has effectively declared war on one of the participating nations so close to a tournament." - @kristianulrichsen.bsky.social in The World Cup and War - new documentary episode of @theathleticfc.bsky.social podcast. Listen here ⬇️ pod.fo/e/40c5b2

"We've never had a situation where a World Cup host has effectively declared war on one of the participating nations so close to a tournament." - @kristianulrichsen.bsky.social in The World Cup and War - new documentary episode of @theathleticfc.bsky.social podcast. Listen here ⬇️ pod.fo/e/40c5b2

The Athletic FC Podcast: The World Cup and War

This summer's World Cup in North America is the biggest in size and scale and now, arguably, the most controversial. The tournament kicks off in less than 40 days. Co-hosts USA remain at war with I...

pod.fo

Thank you so much! I had such fun writing it. If only every book was like this…

Faisal فيصل@faisalhamadah.bsky.social · 4mo ago

Really one of the most nuanced, interesting, idiosyncratic, beautifully researched academic books i’ve read in a while - its got something for everyone and very few others could have written it. Congrats @kristianulrichsen.bsky.social !!

Insightful analysis by two preeminent Gulf experts, @giorgiocafiero.bsky.social and @kristianulrichsen.bsky.social. www.theamericanconservative.com/qatars-calcu...

Qatar’s Calculus Amid the Iran War

Doha’s careful balancing act has been threatened by severe security and economic challenges.

theamericanconservative.com

You can find more limited commentary from some of them here. @glcarlstrom.bsky.social @ibishblog.bsky.social @kdiwan.bsky.social @arashtehran.bsky.social @valinasr.bsky.social @kristianulrichsen.bsky.social @drhahellyer.bsky.social @andreaskrieg.bsky.social @giorgiocafiero.bsky.social etc

Reposting this 🧵 from X, which—despite its enshitification by Elon—is still the best social media hub for quality Iran War analysis. Some of the scholars & analysts whom I’ve recommended here (see the final post here for those recommendations) are on this platform. But most aren’t/post there more.

Clearly huge hurdles to overcome for forthcoming WC in US re conflict in Middle East, but - as discussed by @kristianulrichsen.bsky.social in this released shortly after initial US/Israel strikes on Iran last year - regional unrest hugely concerning for Saudi (WC34/SPL/project2030). pod.fo/e/2f6765

The Athletic FC Podcast: At what cost? Saudi Arabia and soccer

There's been two football tournaments in the United States this summer, the Club World Cup and the Gold Cup. Both with an ostensible Saudi feel, all part of grand plan to invest heavily in sport ba...

pod.fo

Helpful analysis from @kristianulrichsen.bsky.social for @theconversation.com Iran’s targeting of airport, ports and hotels in reaction to US strikes has forced Gulf nations onto front lines of a war they want no part in theconversation.com/irans-target...

Iran’s targeting of airport, ports and hotels in reaction to US strikes has forced Gulf nations onto front lines of a war they want no part in

Qatar, the UAE and other Gulf nations have spent years cultivating an image of being an oasis of stability in the Mideast. The current war risks undoing all that work.

theconversation.com

@kristianulrichsen.bsky.social has managed not to disgrace himself before @ichotiner.bsky.social which surely must merit an award

Grateful to Danyel for taking the time to read and review Kingdom of Football, and for raising excellent suggestions for further research.

Danyel Reiche@politicsofsports.bsky.social · 7mo ago

I tremendously enjoyed reading and reviewing @kristianulrichsen.bsky.social book "Kingdom of Football: Saudi Arabia and the Remaking of World Soccer" for the Middle East Journal. www.academia.edu/164648054/Ki...

I tremendously enjoyed reading and reviewing @kristianulrichsen.bsky.social book "Kingdom of Football: Saudi Arabia and the Remaking of World Soccer" for the Middle East Journal. www.academia.edu/164648054/Ki...

Kingdom of Football: Saudi Arabia and the Remaking of World Soccer

My review of the book 'Kingdom of Football: Saudi Arabia and the Remaking of World Soccer,' by Kristian Coates Ulrichsen. London, UK: Hurst, 2025. 264 pages.

academia.edu

Friends! The New School has cancelled one of its most popular graduate courses, Global Soccer and World Politics. We want to host this course for @resistanceschool.bsky.social ahead of the 2026 World Cup. Interested? Fill the interest form here! www.resistancestudiesseries.com/worldcupwait...

World Cup Waitlist — RESISTANCE STUDIES SERIES

resistancestudiesseries.com

Man who moved abroad to avoid hundreds of millions of pounds of tax and whose business have benefited from hundreds of millions of pounds of public funds believes that, 'Britain has been "colonised" by immigrants, who are draining resources from the state.'

Sky News@news.sky.com · 7mo ago

'The UK has been colonised by immigrants', says INEOS boss and Man Utd co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe

Back in Oxford for the first time in 13 years. Will be speaking about my book, Kingdom of Football, at St Antony’s College tomorrow.

Anyone book reviews editors want a review of @kristianulrichsen.bsky.social’s kingdom of football from me?

Extraordinary detail from 2017 (a year before Jamal Khashoggi’s murder). Wonder if the human rights community in Norway is aware of this entity and individual

Webs of positive interconnectivity present win-win solutions for the United States and Gulf states but need a predictable and reliable decision-making landscape if they are to maximize results. @kristianulrichsen.bsky.social

Gulf States on the Frontline of U.S.-Iran Volatility - AGSI

From a Gulf perspective, red lines keep being crossed, and the guardrails for avoiding entanglement in conflict prove unsatisfactory.

agsi.org