Engulfed: How Saudi Arabia Bought Sport, and the World

James Montague's "Engulfed" arrives at a pivotal moment in global sports history, promising to be one of the most significant sports books of 2025. This meticulously researched exposé sheds light on one of the most ambitious sports takeovers in history, as Saudi Arabia prepares to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup.
Award-winning journalist Montague, who has covered sports from over 100 countries, applies his considerable expertise to a subject that is highly relevant. Drawing from extensive firsthand interviews and on-the-ground reporting across Saudi Arabia, the United States, England, Spain, and Turkey, he weaves together a narrative that reads more like a political thriller than a sports book.
The book's central premise is both simple and startling: following the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, Saudi Arabia, under the leadership of Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), embarked on an unprecedented campaign to use sports as a tool for reputation rehabilitation and geopolitical influence. Montague methodically documents how this strategy unfolded, from the controversial acquisition of Newcastle United to the seismic disruption of professional golf through LIV, and even the kingdom's growing influence in boxing and esports.
What sets "Engulfed" apart is Montague's ability to connect the dots between seemingly disparate events. He demonstrates how Saudi Arabia's sports investments follow a carefully crafted blueprint, one that borrows from other Gulf states but operates on a scale that dwarfs previous efforts. The author's experience covering football's power brokers, evidenced by his previous award-winning works like "The Billionaires Club," allows him to dissect complex financial and political maneuvers with clarity and precision.
Particularly fascinating is Montague's exploration of the key players in this global drama. His portrait of MBS's transformation from an unknown prince to the kingdom's de facto ruler is nuanced and revealing. The book also examines the roles played by various power brokers, from Boris Johnson to Donald Trump, showing how sports became a conduit for political influence at the highest levels.
The narrative is at its strongest when Montague delves into the human cost of sportswashing. He never loses sight of the Khashoggi murder that catalyzed this massive sports spending spree, and he skillfully balances the glittering surface of Saudi sports investments with the darker realities that lie beneath.
Some readers might find the level of detail overwhelming at times, particularly in sections dealing with complex financial transactions and political maneuvering. However, this thoroughness is also the book's strength – Montague leaves no stone unturned in his quest to understand and explain how sport became a vital geopolitical tool for the House of Saud.
"Engulfed" is more than just a sports book; it's a vital piece of investigative journalism that helps us understand how soft power operates in the 21st century. It's essential reading for anyone interested in the intersection of sports, politics, and power in our modern world. Through Montague's lens, we see how the beautiful game and other sports have become pawns in a much larger game of global influence and reputation management.
The timing of this book couldn't be more perfect, as we watch Saudi Arabia's influence in global sports continue to expand. It serves as both a warning and a wake-up call about the changing nature of sports ownership and the increasing use of athletic competition as a tool for political influence.
This is a must-read for sports fans, political observers, and anyone concerned about the future of global athletics. Montague has delivered a compelling, concerning, and ultimately crucial examination of how money, power, and sport have become inextricably linked in our modern world.
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Publisher: Visit Blink Publishing
Published: March 27, 2025
Price: £22.00 
Hardcover: 304 pages
ISBN-10: 178512160X
ISBN-13: 978-1785121609
Dimensions: 234 x 153 (mm)