Newcastle United’s St James’ Park could be set to host a friendly between Saudi Arabia and Mexico later this year during the September international break.
Newcastle United’s already strong ties to the gulf state of Saudi Arabia could be about to get even stronger.
Back in October 2021, the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia bought Newcastle from Sports Direct mogul Mike Ashley for £305million.
While there are plenty of lingering concerns about what their involvement in the Premier League means for the sport, on the pitch, the takeover has brought Champions League football back to Tyneside for the first time since 2003.
And now there are reports claiming the Magpies could be set to host the Saudi Arabian national team at St James’ Park during the September international break later this year.
According to ESPN, Newcastle are in talks with both the football federations of Saudi Arabia and Mexico over holding a prospective friendly at St James.
The two sides are already unofficially slated to face each other in September, with Mexico facing off against South Korea on September 12 in England anyway.
And with no friendly venue for the clash between Saudi Arabia and Mexico having been decided upon, it would make sense for St James’ and Newcastle to host the game given their close ties to the former. The FA would also have to green light the friendly being held at St James’.
Newcastle’s ties to Saudi Arabia have only grown since 2021. PIF governor, Yasir Al-Rumayyan is the Magpies chairman and has attended multiple Premier League games since the takeover.