FIFA continues to build it's relationship with Saudi Arabia after awarding this year's Club World Cup tournament to the Arab nation.
Cristiano Ronaldo now plays for a Saudi Arabian football club Photo: AFP
Visit Saudi was a regional sponsor during last year's men's World Cup in Qatar and has been linked with the women's World Cup tournament later this year.
Co-hosts Australia and New Zealand have asked Fifa to "urgently clarify" reports that Saudi Arabia's tourism authority is to be named as an official sponsor of the tournament .
A deal has been criticised by human rights groups with the Gulf Kingdom accused of human rights abuses.
Football Australia and New Zealand Football said they were not consulted and are "disappointed".
They have both written to football's world governing body, while Amnesty International called it "crude exploitation" of the sport.
Since 2014 it has been estimated that Saudi Arabia has spent around $3 billion on hosting sporting events.
The FIFA Council unanimously voted for the Saudi Arabian Football Federation to stage the 2023 Club World Cup, which includes the six continental champions plus the host's national champions.
The tournament will take place from Dec. 12-22.
Earlier this month, Saudi Arabia was selected by the Asian Football Confederation to host the 2027 Asian Cup.
The country has previously hosted sporting events including this year's Spanish Super Cup, 2022's world title fight between Oleksandr Usyk and Anthony Joshua and the Riyadh Grand Prix.
The FIFA Council meeting also confirmed changes to the structure of the Club World Cup, with approval for an expanded 32-team tournament from 2025.
UEFA will have 12 places and CONMEBOL six, while CONCACAF, CAF and the AFC will each have four, with one place for the OFC and another for the hosts.
The FIFA meeting also confirmed that the United States, Mexico and Canada will automatically qualify for the 2026 World Cup as joint-hosts of the tournament, with their places being deducted from CONCACAF's overall allocation of six.
-RNZ/Reuters
