Sports

The World’s Most Expensive Camel? Paul Pogba Enters Saudi Camel Racing in a Landmark Investment Move

Paul Pogba Enters Saudi Camel Racing: A Move Linked to the World’s Most Expensive Camels

The World’s Most Expensive Camel? Paul Pogba Enters Saudi Camel Racing in a Landmark Investment Move

KSA Journal – Sports & Investments

World Cup star Paul Pogba partners with Saudi professional camel racing team Hubub, bringing global attention to a sport rooted in Arabian heritage.

World Cup champion Paul Pogba has officially stepped into one of the Gulf’s oldest and most prestigious sporting traditions: professional camel racing. The French football star has announced a strategic investment and ownership stake in the Saudi camel racing team Hubub, marking one of the most unexpected crossovers between global football and Arabian heritage sports.

The move has triggered wide interest in both the sports and business communities, particularly as Pogba links his name and brand to a sport known for producing some of the world’s most expensive and highly valued racing camels.

A New Frontier: Co-Owner and Global Ambassador

Pogba joins Hubub as a part-owner and global ambassador, with a clear mandate to help elevate camel racing onto the international stage. His involvement comes at a time when Saudi Arabia is accelerating the modernization and professionalization of its heritage sports, with a focus on building global audiences and new commercial structures around them.

According to sources close to the deal, Pogba did not enter this arena lightly. He spent months following camel racing, studying the training systems, performance strategies and technology used across major regional competitions. What began as curiosity evolved into a conviction that camel racing offers a unique mix of culture, competition and commercial potential.

In his comments about the partnership, Pogba has emphasized that sport, at its core, is about passion, sacrifice and identity – and that camel racing embodies all three through its deep roots in Arabian culture and its growing global profile.

Hubub: Saudi Arabia’s First Fully Professional Camel Racing Team

Hubub is among the first teams in the region to approach camel racing with a fully professional structure. The team’s vision goes beyond participation in traditional races; it seeks to build an integrated performance and commercial ecosystem around the sport.

The project focuses on:

Scientific breeding and advanced veterinary care for racing camels
Professional training programs and performance planning
Brand building and sponsorship strategies targeting regional and global partners
Long-term plans for structured leagues and international events

With Pogba’s entry as a high-profile investor and ambassador, Hubub is now positioned to become the first camel racing team with truly international recognition. Industry observers expect this partnership to accelerate new sponsorships, broadcast interest and cross-border collaborations.

Where Heritage Meets High-Value Assets

Camel racing is one of the region’s most historic sports, but it is also increasingly known for the extraordinary economic value it generates. Elite racing camels with the right lineage, performance record and training can be worth millions of dollars, placing them among the world’s most expensive racing assets.

In that sense, Pogba’s move into camel racing is more than a lifestyle or cultural statement; it is also a calculated sports investment. It mirrors global trends where top athletes and celebrities are moving into team ownership and niche sports franchises, from US soccer and Major League Pickleball to racing series and golf leagues.

Yet, unlike many of these ventures, this partnership connects directly to a deep-rooted regional identity, centered around the Arabian camel as both a cultural symbol and a high-performance athlete.

Technology, Tradition and the Future of Camel Racing

Modern camel racing bears little resemblance to the sport as it was practiced decades ago. Today, the sport uses robotic jockeys equipped with remote-control systems, GPS tracking and advanced monitoring tools, enhancing both safety and performance analysis.

Alongside technology, the sport also incorporates:

Data-driven training and race strategy
Professional management teams and commercial departments
Structured race calendars and major prize purses
Growing media coverage and digital viewership

Pogba’s involvement signals growing confidence that camel racing can evolve into a globally watched niche sport, particularly as younger audiences seek new and authentic sports experiences with strong cultural stories behind them.

A Cultural Bridge with Global Impact

The partnership also functions as a cultural bridge. On one side stands a World Cup–winning footballer with a global following; on the other, a sport that has carried the heritage of the Arabian Peninsula for generations.

By tying his name to camel racing, Pogba helps open a new narrative: one in which heritage sports are not only preserved, but also repositioned as global platforms for investment, innovation and storytelling.

For Saudi Arabia, the deal aligns with broader ambitions to showcase local culture in world-class formats, attract foreign partnerships and diversify its sports and entertainment portfolio.

For the global sports business, the message is clear: the next “big story” in sports may not come from a new league in a familiar game, but from a centuries-old discipline now entering the era of professionalization and international capital—and, perhaps, from the world’s next “most expensive camel.”

Sports

Lewis Hamilton insists he is getting closer to first Ferrari victory

Lewis Hamilton believes his first win for Ferrari is on the cards after a second-place finish at the Monaco Grand Prix, with the seven-time champion committed to chasing down the Formula One world championship leader, Kimi Antonelli, who won again in Monte Carlo.

After the race there was also a furious reaction from France’s Pierre Gasly, who crossed the line believing he had secured third and a place on the podium, only to find he had two penalties for speeding in the pit lane, dropping him to seventh.

Antonelli won for Mercedes after a dominant drive and maintaining his lead through a safety-car restart and another standing restart. With his teammate George Russell finishing in 13th, one of five drivers penalised for speeding in the pit lane, the 19-year-old Italian now leads the title race by 66 points from Hamilton, who has surpassed Russell and is two points ahead of him in second place.

“I can’t believe I am second in the championship,” said Hamilton. “It is still very early days in the season and we have to keep chasing. It is actually easier to chase than it is to defend and while these guys [Mercedes] are very quick, we are going to keep pushing, keep chasing and I have no doubt that at some stage we will get that [Ferrari win].

“Kimi is doing a phenomenal job but it just encourages me to level up and it encourages everyone else to level up, too. I am going to do my best to try and chase him down for the rest of the year.”

Hamilton was among five drivers who were penalised for speeding in the pit lane, an unusually high number. Alongside Russell, Gasly and Hamilton, Oscar Piastri and Franco Colapinto were also punished.

Gasly had driven a superb race from ninth on the grid, passing Lando Norris at the start and then Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar at the standing restart. He crossed the line and celebrated his third place enthusiastically on his in-lap, not knowing he had two five-second penalties to be added to his time.

He was left angry, convinced his podium place had been unfairly denied. “I don’t think there is anything that could hurt me more right now,” he said. “It’s 10 years I’m fucking working my ass off for this type of moment. We did everything right today [for] standing on that podium in front of all the fans that turned up.

“This is the type of moment that for me can’t be taken away from us by unfair reasons. What’s going on right now is not right and hopefully they can make the right choice.”

His Alpine team have requested the right to review the penalties. The drivers involved all believed they had employed their pit speed limiters correctly and the issue appears to have come about when marginally cutting the line where speed measurement begins on pit entry, an issue the FIA had warned against.

Russell has seen his title hopes take a serious blow in not scoring at the last two races and was let down in Monaco when Mercedes failed to impose his five-second penalty during his stop, for which he was given a drive-through, demoting him from third to 13th. He was bereft at his poor fortune.

“I’m beyond frustration now. Just struggling to comprehend how this season has panned out,” he said. “The team tell me there’s nothing I did wrong with the speed in the pit lane, software issue.

“I’m in a very weird state of mind because I’ve had very low moments in my career where I’ve maybe had a run of two bad races or three bad races on my own personal performance. I’ve never had a run of bad luck like this.”

THE GUARDIAN

Sports

World Cup style tournament already underway

The 2026 World Cup may not kick off until Thursday, but the fashion tournament has already begun, as teams arrive at training camps across the US.

Fashion moments range from the outfits players wear to get to training, to the suits worn on planes and their training gear. The French team’s training camp in Clairefontaine became something of a catwalk this week thanks to the style of players such as Jules Koundé and Kylian Mbappé. Meanwhile, brands including Loewe, Gabriela Hearst, Patta and the rapper Drake’s Nocta have worked with teams on suiting and training gear.

Since the last tournament in 2022, fashion’s influence on football has skyrocketed, with brands working with players and clubs, and the personal style of players influencing what young men wear, often thanks to carousels of images on Instagram and the outfits photographed when they arrive at training. This is set to increase further at the World Cup, with players including the Spanish ace Lamine Yamal, the Netherlands’ Virgil van Dijk and Koundé already posting outfits to their Instagram accounts.

“Fashion has been given a currency that it hasn’t had before,” says Mahalia Chang, the style editor of GQ. “We’re seeing more of the players and, unconsciously or not, we’re putting more weight on what they wear, and I think they’re aware of that.”

Chang points to Yamal – who wore a Chanel jacket recently – and Van Dijk as players to watch for the tournament. “[Yamal] takes a lot of courage to step outside the box and you can tell he feels great,” she says. “[Van Dijk’s style] is elevated, classic but it still has a nice edge to it.”

Ahead of the tournament, here are the teams and players who are so far winning the style games.

Netherlands

It makes sense that the Dutch streetwear brand Patta would work with the Dutch team at the World Cup. The bold orange and black prints featuring lions and chains – shades of 80s Versace – have already been worn by the team captain, Van Dijk on the cover of Fantastic Man magazine and for a pre-tournament friendly against Algeria.

United States

As manager of the US team, Mauricio Pochettino regularly wears a relaxed-fit suit, with an open jacket and jersey underneath. When the US players were revealed this tournament, they were dressed in a similar manner – a clever mirroring that signals the synergy between boss and players, and also flashes forward to their potential post-playing careers as managers themselves.

England

Jude Bellingham has never been the kind of guy to take huge fashion risks. But, like his Real Madrid teammate Mbappé, he always looks pristine. While other teammates are in slightly crumpled sportswear or the regulation not-grey-and-not-blue-either England tracksuit, which as Sports Direct vibes, he turned up in tasteful beige co-ords and made sleeveless knits seem like a viable option in near 30-degree heat.

Spain

The Spanish brand Loewe has the kind of fashion pedigree usually reserved for catwalk shows. But it’s now also working with the national team on suits. The designs in question, worn by players including Nico Williams and Pedri, are therefore distinctly more fashion forward than most footballers’ suits– with wide trousers and one-button jackets. Classy.

Germany

Germany’s plane outfits were varied but all variations on the theme – whether slackets, chinos, tasteful knits or fresh white tees, all in a colour palette of navy, beige and white. The dads-on-tour look is not dissimilar to the designs that the England team wore when outfitted by Marks & Spencer for Euro 2024. Simple, approachable and wearable – think clothing equally at home at the school gates or a weekend barbecue.

France

Much has been made of the French team’s off-duty style prowess when arriving at their training camp Clairefontaine. While sadly they now have to wear their regulation training kits most of the time, there are still details to note. These Nike Air Max Plus sneakers – a current favourite with twentysomethings – ensure Les Bleus make their mark, even in uniform.

Japan

When departing Japan for the World Cup, the Samurai Blue wore pristine suits, with slightly asymmetrical waistcoats. The stand out player was defender Yuto Nagatomo, who added a traditional hachimaki headband, to symbolise fighting spirit. A different mood arrived when they reached Monterrey in Mexico – and the governor Samual Garcia handed the team cowboy hats.

Could have been a contender: Hungary’s Dominik Szoboszlai

Liverpool fans well know Szoboszlai’s ability to change games on the pitch. Although Hungary failed to qualify for the World Cup, his arrival at the team’s recent training camp in white just-below-the-knee culottes had a similar effect off it. GQ’s Chang describes his look as “a high-risk, high-reward kind of outfit”. Hermès bag aside, it has more in common with the looks found in east London than on most footballers, and has already spawned memes to that effect. Although he’s been mercilessly mocked by the football community for it, he’s top of the league for fashion.

THE GUARDIAN

Sports

Yamal wins LaLiga Player of the Season award

Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal has been named LaLiga Player of the season, the Spanish league announced on Friday.

The 18-year-old helped Barca retain ‌their domestic crown, became the first player to win the league’s Player of the Month award three times in one season and finished as the club’s top scorer in La Liga with ⁠16 goals and 11 assists.

Regarding Yamal, Barca said in a statement: “He is the proverbial headache for opponent defences, who have to make a real effort to try to stop the blaugrana’s attacking threats.

“Beyond the intangibles, the young Catalan scored 16 goals ‌and ⁠provided 11 assists, with no other LaLiga player providing that many passes leading to goals.”

Yamal, who has been sidelined with groin issues multiple times this term, is expected to ⁠be fit for Spain at the World Cup starting next week in Canada, Mexico and the U.S.

He missed the ⁠last six games of the season for Barcelona due to a hamstring injury.

Yamal exploded onto the scene at ⁠16 and was an integral part of Spain’s record fourth European Championship triumph in 2024.

The Thomson Reuters