Bosnia-Herzegovina beat Qatar in Seattle and finished third in Group B, very likely advancing to the World Cup knockout stage as a potential U.S. opponent.

Gulf nations like Saudi Arabia and Qatar invested extensively in soccer and infrastructure, yet both faced disappointing exits from the World Cup. This situation reveals that even large financial investments do not guarantee success on the field.

Here at home, people have been debating for months about the sometimes exorbitant prices at the World Cup in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada. In Qatar, the Emir is opening the coffers without hesitation.

Herzegovina seal a 3-1 victory over Qatar in Seattle. A stunning opener from Alajbegovic on 29 minutes got Sergej Barbarez

By signing the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar and Karim Benzema as part of a spectacular recruitment drive in recent years, Saudi Arabia has been a major disruptor of club soccer, but on the inter

Despite ambitious spending and notable player acquisitions, Gulf countries like Saudi Arabia and Qatar experienced disappointing World Cup exits. This indicates that financial clout does not ensure triumph in the game.