Football proves at its major stations that it does not favor coincidence, nor does it flatter reality, and that surges do not last long. With the current World Cup train arriving at the 'semi-final' station, we can say:

Now the real World Cup tournament has started. Now the lost prestige of the World Cup has returned, after the giants of the game shook off the dust of surprises and regained the scene befitting a tournament bearing this ancient historical name.

The arrival of the four big teams (France, Spain, Argentina, and England) to the golden square is confirmation of the immortal saying 'Only the right prevails.'

History, traditions, and accumulated experience in these major appointments are the rare currency that only the strong and the most deserving own in the world of football. When the big players say: We are here, randomness retreats and stops tampering with the legacy of the most valuable tournament.

The world is watching four of the global football stars — Messi, Mbappe, Bellingham, and Yamal — competing fiercely and competitively for glory, each seeking to contribute to his team's qualification to become a finalist in the most precious global gathering. There is no place in this gathering for weak excuses. The current golden square is a victory for the logic of football and a signal of the start of the real fun we have been waiting for.

Welcome to the World Cup of the big players, where prestige meets merit, and history stands in respect for the strongest.

Our league shines globally

Al Jazeera presented a professional, inspiring journalistic survey about our league in the World Cup, which continued its presence on the World Cup stage through 45 players representing 17 teams in its current edition, along with coaches who previously coached our clubs, such as the Belgian and Croatian coaches. I added from myself the Moroccan who was an assistant coach at Saudi Al-Fateh Club. I consider it a survey that matches the depth of the objectives of the grand sports project, emanating from the great vision and its godfather, His Highness my Lord the Crown Prince, which aimed to bring about a qualitative leap for our Saudi football and transform it into a leading global sports league. Thank you to colleague A. Mohammed Al-Eidarous, who combined journalistic art and documentary event to present it to the reader in a comprehensive and in-depth snapshot.

Glimpses from the World Cup

* One of the most beautiful matches I saw in the World Cup was England vs. Mexico in terms of skill, excitement, and the dramatic 2-3 result, reminiscent of the 2022 World Cup final between France and Argentina.

* I liked the statement of the Moroccan coach (conscious and balanced) after his team's elimination from the World Cup, saying: Losing to a team of France's caliber is expected and natural, and it will give us an experience to grow and become strong in the future. I am certain that such a technical mindset is capable of returning his team to African championship podiums again after a 50-year absence.

* If we wanted to choose a distinctive title about the participation of Arab teams in the World Cup, we would say: Goalkeepers saving their teams from historic results, like Shobeir's save against Argentina, Bounou's against France, and Al-Owais's against Uruguay.

* It seems that the opportunity is more favorable for the England team than ever to return to the podium, given its possession of stars and names that deserve to be called the 'Golden Generation' that may not be repeated.

The End

They said: Forcing your mind into a mind unlike yours is a folly that always ends with breaking the key or damaging the lock.

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