The Saudi thing can't happen, 12 of the places have already been allocated to Europe. FIFA have made is clear they want a wide scope of countries represented. They don't want the 12 European clubs to be 4 English. 4 Spanish and 4 German for example. The current view is CL winners over previous 4 years, so that is last 3 plus this year. The other 8 being the best 8 teams based on their coefficient but importantly no country having more than 1 club, unless they have a CL winner. That is how it filters down to us as the final place.
I will agree that UEFA have said their final process has not been ratified, but if they want to meet FIFA's goal they have very little scope to change.
It is the same way a FIFA want a wide coverage for the WC hence it is not the best 32 countries that are actually there.