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Khalid bin Sultan Al-Faisal: Team Ownership Could Be Next F1 Step for Saudi Arabia 

Formula One F1 - Bahrain Grand Prix - Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir, Bahrain - April 13, 2025 Prince Khalid bin Sultan Al-Abdullah Al-Faisal, president of Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation is pictured on the grid before the Bahrain Grand Prix. (Reuters)
Formula One F1 - Bahrain Grand Prix - Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir, Bahrain - April 13, 2025 Prince Khalid bin Sultan Al-Abdullah Al-Faisal, president of Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation is pictured on the grid before the Bahrain Grand Prix. (Reuters)
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Khalid bin Sultan Al-Faisal: Team Ownership Could Be Next F1 Step for Saudi Arabia 

Formula One F1 - Bahrain Grand Prix - Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir, Bahrain - April 13, 2025 Prince Khalid bin Sultan Al-Abdullah Al-Faisal, president of Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation is pictured on the grid before the Bahrain Grand Prix. (Reuters)
Formula One F1 - Bahrain Grand Prix - Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir, Bahrain - April 13, 2025 Prince Khalid bin Sultan Al-Abdullah Al-Faisal, president of Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation is pictured on the grid before the Bahrain Grand Prix. (Reuters)

Owning a Formula One team could be the next step for Saudi Arabia after sponsoring the sport and hosting a grand prix, according to the president of Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation.

Prince Khalid bin Sultan Al-Abdullah Al-Faisal told reporters in a video call ahead of this weekend's race in Jeddah that the interest was there.

"It could happen, it could happen soon if you see the growth (of the sport)," he said.

"If you are going to buy a Formula One team then people will buy it to make money out of it, especially if it's going to be bought by one of the PIF (Saudi Public Investment Fund) companies.

"We see Formula One is reaching new markets, sales are globally increasing ...

"It's not easy to say which team to buy and how you're going to manage it. But we have a lot of interest ... we're hosting Formula One, sponsoring teams. So I wouldn't be surprised if we see an announcement for a Saudi team."

Saudi Arabia first hosted Formula One in 2021, while energy giant Aramco is a global partner of the sport and also title sponsor of the Aston Martin team.

The PIF invested in McLaren in 2021 and already has a 20.5% stake in luxury carmaker Aston Martin, which is separate from the team controlled by Canadian billionaire Lawrence Stroll.

Aston Martin, the carmaker, said last month it would raise more than 125 million pounds ($163.5 million) from Stroll, who is also its chairman, and the sale of its stake in the F1 team.

Investment bank Raine Group has been commissioned by Stroll to help find a buyer for that holding.

There is also lingering speculation about the future of the Renault-owned Alpine team, despite the French carmaker's insistence that a sale is not on the agenda.

'WHY NOT?'

Other Middle Eastern countries who host races have ties to Formula One, with the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) holding a significant minority stake in the Audi team due to debut next year.

Bahrain's sovereign wealth fund Mumtalakat is major shareholder in champions McLaren, with Abu Dhabi's CYVN Holdings recently acquiring McLaren Automotive.

Saudi Arabia has invested heavily in sports over the last few years with the aim to become a global sports hub.

Formula One is enjoying a surge of support in the Middle East with younger female fans the fastest growing demographic globally, according to Nielsen Sports. The region has four of the 24 races.

Formula One teams have soared in value of late, with new audiences attracted by the Netflix docu-series "Drive to Survive".

Alpine, sixth overall last year with Aston Martin fifth, were valued at around $900 million in 2023 after an investor group took a 24% stake for $200 million.

With General Motors-backed Cadillac coming in next year as an 11th team, there remains a space for one more.

"Personally, I would like to see a Saudi team," said Prince Khalid.

"But if Saudi Arabia or one of the Saudi companies will be involved in one of the teams, I would like them to do it the right way and be successful. It's a tricky question, but why not?"

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Sports

AFC Says Has Received No Notification from Iran on World Cup Withdrawal

A soccer field stands empty at Kino Sports Complex, where the Iranian men’s soccer team is scheduled to practice for the FIFA World Cup, in Tucson, Arizona, US, March 4, 2026. REUTERS/Rebecca Noble
A soccer field stands empty at Kino Sports Complex, where the Iranian men’s soccer team is scheduled to practice for the FIFA World Cup, in Tucson, Arizona, US, March 4, 2026. REUTERS/Rebecca Noble
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AFC Says Has Received No Notification from Iran on World Cup Withdrawal

A soccer field stands empty at Kino Sports Complex, where the Iranian men’s soccer team is scheduled to practice for the FIFA World Cup, in Tucson, Arizona, US, March 4, 2026. REUTERS/Rebecca Noble
A soccer field stands empty at Kino Sports Complex, where the Iranian men’s soccer team is scheduled to practice for the FIFA World Cup, in Tucson, Arizona, US, March 4, 2026. REUTERS/Rebecca Noble

The Asian Football Confederation said on Monday it has not received any notification from Iran that it will withdraw its national soccer team from the World Cup.

Iran have qualified for the 48-team tournament to be held in the US, Canada and Mexico from June 11 and are scheduled to play two group matches in Los Angeles and one in Seattle.

Iran's sports minister has said it was impossible for the ⁠players to participate ⁠in the tournament after the US launched airstrikes alongside Israel against Tehran, killing the supreme leader.

US President Donald Trump said last week Iran was welcome to participate in the World Cup but that he ⁠believed it was not appropriate that they be there "for their own life and safety".

"It's a very emotional moment. Everybody's saying a lot of things," AFC General Secretary Windsor John told reporters in Kuala Lumpur.

"At the end of the day, it's the federation who should decide if they're playing, and as of today, the federation has told us that they are going ⁠to ⁠the World Cup.

"They are our member, we want them to play. You know, they qualified ... so we hope that they will solve their issues, whatever it is, and be able to participate,” Reuters quoted John as saying.

An official withdrawal by Iran from soccer's global showpiece would be the first in the modern era and leave FIFA with the urgent task of finding a replacement.
The tournament runs from June 11 to July 19.
 

Sports

Rooney: Let Arsenal Youngster Dowman Enjoy the Moment

Soccer Football - Premier League - Arsenal v Everton - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - March 14, 2026 Arsenal's Max Dowman celebrates scoring their second goal Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs
Soccer Football - Premier League - Arsenal v Everton - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - March 14, 2026 Arsenal's Max Dowman celebrates scoring their second goal Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs
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Rooney: Let Arsenal Youngster Dowman Enjoy the Moment

Soccer Football - Premier League - Arsenal v Everton - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - March 14, 2026 Arsenal's Max Dowman celebrates scoring their second goal Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs
Soccer Football - Premier League - Arsenal v Everton - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - March 14, 2026 Arsenal's Max Dowman celebrates scoring their second goal Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs

Former Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney said Arsenal's Max Dowman should be allowed to enjoy his achievement after becoming the youngest goalscorer in Premier League history during Saturday's 2-0 win over Everton.

Dowman, 16 years and 73 days old, set the record after scoring with virtually the last kick of the match at Emirates Stadium, running more than half the length of the pitch ⁠to slot home.

While ⁠Arsenal will try to make sure the youngster keeps his feet on the ground, it was important Dowman be given room to grow, said Rooney, who scored for Everton against Arsenal in ⁠2002 at the age of 16 years and 360 days.

"Let him enjoy it and go and express himself," the former England forward said on BBC's 'The Wayne Rooney Show'.

"Mikel Arteta, some of the senior players in the Arsenal squad, will not let him get ahead of himself. But I think you have to enjoy it as ⁠well.

"So ⁠when we've got a young lad like that coming through as a 16-year-old, he's clearly got a lot of ability and you just hope he can go and fulfil that potential,” Reuters quoted Rooney as saying.

Arsenal, who are top of the league with 70 points from 31 matches, next face Bayer Leverkusen on Tuesday in the second leg of their Champions League tie.

Sports

5 Women Rejoin Iranian Soccer Squad in Malaysia after Abandoning Australia Asylum

Members of Iran's women's football team arrive at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Sepang on March 16, 2026, after staying in a hotel in the Malaysian capital while awaiting the next leg of their journey home. (Photo by MOHD RASFAN / AFP)
Members of Iran's women's football team arrive at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Sepang on March 16, 2026, after staying in a hotel in the Malaysian capital while awaiting the next leg of their journey home. (Photo by MOHD RASFAN / AFP)
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5 Women Rejoin Iranian Soccer Squad in Malaysia after Abandoning Australia Asylum

Members of Iran's women's football team arrive at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Sepang on March 16, 2026, after staying in a hotel in the Malaysian capital while awaiting the next leg of their journey home. (Photo by MOHD RASFAN / AFP)
Members of Iran's women's football team arrive at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Sepang on March 16, 2026, after staying in a hotel in the Malaysian capital while awaiting the next leg of their journey home. (Photo by MOHD RASFAN / AFP)

The Iranian women’s soccer team had yet to reveal plans to leave Malaysia after most of the seven squad members who created a diplomatic furor by accepting asylum in Australia a week ago have rejoined their teammates in Kuala Lumpur, a sport official said Monday.

The squad flew from Sydney on March 10 after being knocked out of the Women’s Asian Cup in Australia, leaving behind six players and a support staff member who had accepted protection visas.

Four players and the staffer have since rejoined the team in Kuala Lumpur, the latest flying in on Monday. No reasons have been given for the changes of heart, but the Iranian diaspora in Australia blames pressure from Tehran, The Associated Press reported.

The team is being supported in Kuala Lumpur by the Asian Football Confederation. The confederation’s general secretary, Windsor Paul John, said the team was waiting in Malaysia's largest city to make flight connections to their war-torn homeland.

“It could be today, tomorrow or next week,” Windsor told reporters in Kuala Lumpur. “We are just waiting for them to tell us their plans.”

Windsor said his confederation had not received any direct complaints from players about returning home, despite media reports their families in Iran could face retaliation for the team failing to sing their national anthem before the opening match.

“We couldn’t verify anything. We asked them and they said, ‘No, it’s ok,’” he said. “They are actually in high spirits... they didn’t look afraid.”

Iranian authorities have welcomed the women's decisions to reject asylum as a victory against Australia and US President Donald Trump.

Iran’s squad had arrived in Australia for the tournament shortly before the war in the Middle East began on Feb. 28, complicating travel arrangements.

Assistant Immigration Minister Matt Thistlethwaite described the women's plight in Australia as a “very complex situation.”

“These are deeply personal decisions, and the government respects the decisions of those that have chosen to return. And we continue to offer support to the two that are remaining,” Thistlethwaite said.

Those who stayed in Australia have been moved to an undisclosed safe location and are receiving assistance from the government and the Iranian diaspora community, he said.

Kylie Moore-Gilbert, a political scientist at Sydney's Macquarie University who spent more than two years in Iranian prisons on spying charges from 2018 to 2020, said “winning the propaganda war” had overshadowed the women's welfare.

“The high stakes made the Iranian regime sit up and pay attention and try to force their hand in response, in my view,” Moore-Gilbert said.

"I do think in this case, had these woman quietly sought asylum without that publicity around them, it’s possible that the Islamic Republic officials might have, as they have in the cases of other Iranian sports people in the past who’ve defected ... simply allowed that to happen," she added.

Iran’s Tasnim News Agency said the players who left Australia were “returning to the warm embrace of their family and homeland,” describing their return as a failure of what it called an American-Australian political effort.

Concerns about the team’s safety in Iran heightened when the players didn’t sing the Iranian national anthem.

The Australian government was urged to help the women by Iranian groups in Australia and by Trump.

Some members of the Iranian diaspora in Australia have accused the support staffer who initially accepted asylum then left Australia on Saturday of spreading Iranian government propaganda to her teammates via text messages.

Thistlethwaite said there was no evidence to support the theory that the staffer had persuaded others to leave. All those who had remained in Australia after the team had left were “genuine asylum seekers,” he said.

The embassy in the national capital Canberra remains staffed, despite the Australian government expelling the ambassador last year.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese cut off diplomatic relations with Iran in August after announcing that intelligence officials had concluded that the Revolutionary Guard had directed arson attacks on a Sydney kosher food company and Melbourne’s Adass Israel Synagogue in 2024.

Australian-Iranian Society of Victoria vice president Kambiz Razmara said the women who accepted asylum had been under pressure from the Tehran regime.

“They’ve had to make decisions at the spur of the moment with very little information and they’ve had to react to the circumstance,” Razmara said. “I’m surprised that they’ve decided to go, but I’m actually not surprised because I appreciate the pressures that they’re experiencing."