Football, the national sport of Saudi Arabia, is the one that is attended, played, or followed by the majority of the population. According to a survey, about 80% of the population engages in this sport.
Now the most followed international football competition, FIFA which will be played from 12 to 22 Dec, 2023, is going to be hosted by the Kingdom which will be its sixth host.
This development will increase the pace of development of sports for both men and women within the country.
Not only Saudi Arabia will host the FIFA World Cup 2023, but it will also be the one to host the 2027 AFC Asian Cup. It has also a very active bid for the 2026 AFC Asian Cup for Women.
On Tuesday, the FIFA management reached the decision. The result was announced some days after the face-off between Al-Hilal and Real Madrid, where Al-Hilal became the first club from Saudi Arabia to reach the final of the AFC Championship League.
As far as the decision for the stadium goes, SAFF and FIFA have decided that all the matches will be played in Jeddah after the FIFA delegation visited to check the city’s preparation for the event.
The delegation inspected the Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium and the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium. They also visited the facilities for accommodation and training facilities.
The President of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation, Yasser Al Misehal said: “We are delighted that Jeddah, with its state-of-the-art facilities and reputation for hosting major international sports events, has been selected as the host city for the FIFA Club World Cup. Sport is a key driver of Saudi Arabia’s ongoing transformation under Vision 2030, which has established the Kingdom as one of the fastest-growing and most exciting countries in world sport.
“We believe hosting international events like the FIFA Club World Cup provides an opportunity to grow the game further and inspire new and existing fans while showcasing to the world Saudi’s hospitable culture and a huge passion for football. Working closely with FIFA, we are ready to deliver an exceptional tournament and an unforgettable experience for players and fans.”
Saudi Arabia has not only won the U-23 AFC Asian Cup for men but has also qualified for six FIFA World Cup™ tournaments. The SAFF has also established a national and FIFA-ranked team for women and is also going to launch a U-17 women’s national team.
To provide the youth with the boost and support for the sport, it has also established 28 regional training centers. A 58% rise in male players and an 86% rise in female players has also been noticed since 2021.
Minister of Sports Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal said: “We are honored and extremely excited to be given the opportunity to welcome the world’s leading football clubs and their fans to Saudi Arabia.
“Many fans will have recently witnessed our ability as a nation to compete at the highest possible level on the pitch. Now we have the chance to prove we are also world-class hosts off it. We look forward to showcasing our genuine love of the game and our desire to be a force for good.
“Today is another important step forward on our journey of transformation in football and as a country and I trust all involved will see for themselves the undeniable progress being made at many different levels.
“We host international sports for the simple reason that we truly believe in the power of sport to inspire our boys and girls, to create new connections, and build new relationships.
“This will mean so much to our people where 70 percent are under the age of 35 and are absolutely obsessed with football,” the prince added.
