If you’re a football fan, set your sights on Saudi. Not only is the GOAT himself, Lionel Messi, a Saudi tourism ambassador, but the country has also entered the playing field on an international level. Thanks to the government’s major investments in the sport, global football stars and prominent tournaments have landed in Arabia.
The excitement can be felt across the country. For example, when Saudi beat Argentina on the world stage in Doha, Qatar, in 2022, Saudi declared the day after the match a public holiday so everyone could celebrate. One football fan in Saudi said the victory was one of the happiest moments of his life, and that people across the country lived in joy for days after the win.
Read on for more about Saudi’s football fever and its growing international prominence in one of the world’s favorite sports.
Attracting International Stars and Developing Local Talent in Saudi
Saudi has become a sports hub, hosting both national and international tournaments. In addition, emphasis has been placed on building local clubs — specifically Al Hilal and Al Nassr in Riyadh and Al Ittihad and Al Ahli in Jeddah — and on recruiting international talent, such as superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, to play in Saudi.
Portugal’s Ronaldo is playing for Saudi’s Al Nassr club, and he predicts that the Saudi Pro League will be among the strongest in the world. Karim Benzema of France is another distinguished player who has made Saudi his home field. He plays for Al Ittihad, which won the Saudi Pro League in 2022-23. Saudi is also in the process of attracting other top players from European leagues, so keep an eye on the headlines.
One football fan in Saudi said he couldn’t believe it when his favorite player from the English leagues, Roberto Firmino, signed to play for his favorite Saudi team, Al Ahli in Jeddah.
Additionally, the Spanish professional league, LaLiga, signed a strategic partnership with Visit Saudi to be the international sponsor and official tourist destination for Spanish football fans around the world. Part of the agreement includes collaborating on special tourism experiences for La Liga fans.
Saudi also wants to develop local talent through camps and programs such as the Future Falcons, which aims to establish a strong foundation for youth football in the country.
International Tournaments Coming to Saudi
Another reason to visit Saudi if you love football? The country is set to host two important international tournaments: the 2027 AFC Asian Cup and, it was recently announced by Gianni Infantino, the president of FIFA, that the World Cup would be played in Saudi in 2034.
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