The Football Scholars Forum opened its 2026-27 season on October 15 with historian Kristian Coates Ulrichsen (Fellow for the Middle East at the Baker Institute at Rice University) and his book, Kingdom of Football: Saudi Arabia and the Remaking of World Soccer (Oxford University Press, 2025).
The discussion delved into Saudi Arabia's role as an investor, sponsor, tournament host, and competitor in global soccer, as well as the game's ongoing impact on the politics of Saudi Arabia and the broader Gulf region.
Listen to the audio recording of the event on the Football Scholars Forum website. The Football Scholars Forum is based in the History Department and is convened by Professor Peter Alegi.