JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia -- In the historic centre of Jeddah, in the old heart of the city, there's a football pitch. It isn't much: an uneven, astroturf surface, and two undersized goals. There are floodlights, and white lines painted on the ground, but no seats for spectators. It's surrounded by crumbling walls, half-abandoned buildings, and a few palm trees. This is football, like it's always been, everywhere.
But the game has changed. The 2034 FIFA World Cup is coming. Cristiano Ronaldo plays here in the Saudi Pro League, and so does Karim Benzema, at Jeddah's Al Ittihad.