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Defector

Billy Haisley

Lamine Yamal of Spain celebrates after scoring their side's first goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group H match between Spain and Saudi Arabia.

Soccer

The Real Spain Has Now Arrived

Patrick Redford

WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 5: FIFA President Gianni Infantino and U.S. President Donald Trump on stage during the FIFA World Cup 2026 official draw at John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on December 5, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Tasos Katopodis - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

The State Of Sportswashing

David Roth

Jon Rahm of Legion XIII celebrates with the trophy after winning the final round of LIV Golf Mexico City at Club de Golf Chapultepec on April 19, 2026 in Mexico City.

Golf

Saudi Arabia Decides LIV Golf Is Ready To Be Supported By Its Passionate Fan Base, Unbeatable Product

Luis Paez-Pumar

Football journalist Fabrizio Romano during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD6 match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and FC Internazionale Milano at BayArena on December 10, 2024 in Leverkusen, Germany.

Why Is Soccer’s Most Famous Scoopster Doing PR Work For Saudi Arabia?

Owen Lewis is a former Defector intern and has written for The Guardian, The Second Serve, The Athletic, and other publications.

Owen Lewis

David Benavidez exchanges punches with Anthony Yarde in a WBC and WBA light-heavyweight title fight during Ring IV: Night of the Champions at ANB Arena on November 22, 2025 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Boxing

The Fights Got Bloody In Riyadh

Tom Ley

Chris "Mad Dog" Russo and Michael Lombardi attend the SiriusXM's Chris "Mad Dog" Russo Broadcast From Bar A at The Jersey Shore Bar Anticipation on July 26, 2024 in Lake Como, New Jersey.

College Football

Please Spend Some Time Imagining Mike Lombardi Begging For Money In Saudi Arabia

Samer Kalaf

Arts And Culture

Bill Burr Keeps Cycling Through Excuses For Doing The Riyadh Comedy Festival

Giri Nathan

Grim Visions Emerge From The Riyadh Comedy Festival

A sign is posted in front of Electric Arts headquarters on September 29, 2025 in Redwood City, California.

Video Games

Saudi Arabia’s All-Consuming Maw Devours Electronic Arts

Columnist. Author of many <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Drew-Magary/e/B001JS8R52/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_book_1">fine works of literature</a>, including Point B. Handsomest man in the world.

Drew Magary

TAMPA, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 28: Fox Sports commentator and former NFL quarterback Tom Brady smiles prior to an NFL football game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Philadelphia Eagles at Raymond James Stadium on September 28, 2025 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)

Funbag

What’s A Dollar Really Worth To These Ghouls?

All Your Favorite Sellouts Will Be At The Riyadh Comedy Festival

Tom Brady speaks onstage at Fanatics Fest NYC 2025 at Javits Center on June 21, 2025 in New York City.

Tom Brady Adds Sportswashing To His Impressive Résumé

Hamilton Nolan is a journalist based in New York City. Subscribe to his work at <a href="https://www.hamiltonnolan.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.hamiltonnolan.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1687350200913000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0naFbUVOe-5ZgtPDtIM3gz">HamiltonNolan.com</a>.

Hamilton Nolan

William Zepeda (R) lands a punch on Shakur Stevenson (L) during their lightweight title fight at Louis Armstrong Stadium on July 12, 2025 in New York City.

Bills Week

The Fighters Pay The Bills

Lauren Theisen

US wrestler CM Punk greets the fans before his match against against John Cena for the undisputed WWE Championship during the King of the Ring event at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh on June 28, 2025.

Pro Wrestling

CM Punk Loves Saudi Arabia

Dave McKenna

Turki Al-Sheikh and actor Jason Statham (left) at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Picture date: Saturday December 21, 2024.

The Fights

Saudi Arabia’s Latest Boxing Spectacle Is A Times Square Fight Card With No Start Time And No Tickets

Dmitrii Bivol fights Artur Beterbiev as the headline act of Beterbiev v Bivol 2: The Last Crescendo at Kingdom Arena on February 22, 2025 in Riyadh.

We’ll Take More Bivol Vs. Beterbiev, Less Of Everything Else

Jhon Duran of Aston Villa gives a thumbs up during the warm up prior to the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD8 match between Aston Villa FC and Celtic FC at Villa Park on January 29, 2025 in Birmingham, England.

Will Jhon Durán Ever Be Back?

Jannik Sinner of Italy poses for a photo with Turki Alalshikh, Chairman of the General Entertainment Authority, after being awarded the trophy following victory in his Men's Singles Final match against Carlos Alcaraz of Spain

Tennis

Saudi Arabia Got What It Wanted From The Six Kings Slam

Tyson Fury (third left) and Oleksandr Usyk (third right) pose alongside promoter Frank Warren (fourth left), actor Sylvester Stallone (centre) and The Saudi Chairman of General Authority for Entertainment Turki Alalshikh during a press conference at Outernet London.

Don’t Expect Much Resistance To A Saudi Boxing Takeover

Deshaun Watson wearing traditional Saudi clothing.

NFL’s Preeminent Creep Now Trying To Lure League To Saudi Arabia

ATP CEO Massimo Calvelli (left) sits alongside Kevin Foster, PIF Head of Corporate Affairs

ATP Tour Announces Deal To Accept More Saudi Money

Real Madrid players celebrates after scoring a goal during Real Madrid CF v Atletico Madrid - Super Copa de España Semi-Final on January 10, 2024 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The Saudi Supercopa Is Great In Spite Of Itself

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

A photo of PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan.

The PGA Tour Is Casting Around For Plan B

A general view of the performance as Saudi Arabia is displayed on the LED Screen during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Final Draw at Doha Exhibition Center on April 1, 2022 in Doha, Qatar.

Saudi Arabia Will Host The 2034 World Cup

Gabri Veiga of RC Celta celebrates after scores the team's first goal during the LaLiga Santander match between RC Celta and FC Barcelona at Estadio Balaidos on June 04, 2023 in Vigo, Spain.