2023 FIFA Club World Cup sets new tournament records in Jeddah

2023 FIFA Club World Cup sets new tournament records in Jeddah
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Manchester City's English defender #02 Kyle Walker lifts the trophy after the FIFA Club World Cup final football match between Brazil's Fluminense and England's Manchester City at the King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah on December 22, 2023. (AFP)
2023 FIFA Club World Cup sets new tournament records in Jeddah
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Manchester City team celebrate with their winning trophy at the end of the FIFA Club World Cup 2023 football final match against Brazil's Fluminense at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah on December 22, 2023. (Photo by Giuseppe Cacace / AFP)
2023 FIFA Club World Cup sets new tournament records in Jeddah
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Football teams' flags hang at the Fifa Club World Cup Fan Village in the Saudi Red Sea resort town of Jeddah on December 20, 2023. (AFP)
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Updated 25 December 2023
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2023 FIFA Club World Cup sets new tournament records in Jeddah

2023 FIFA Club World Cup sets new tournament records in Jeddah
  • Record crowds attended the opening matches with an all-time tournament high of 50,000 watching the opening game between Al-Ittihad and Auckland City at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium

JEDDAH: The 20th edition of the FIFA Club World Cup, hosted by Saudi Arabia in Jeddah from Dec. 12 to 22, set several new records for the tournament.

The competition featured thrilling games among the participating teams and was attended by fans from around the world.

This year’s edition was marked by a special stamp in the passports of travelers arriving in the Kingdom through King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah as part of an initiative carried out by the Kingdom’s sports and interior ministries.

And English Premier League side Manchester City became the latest team to lift the trophy.

Record crowds attended the opening matches with an all-time tournament high of 50,000 watching the opening game between Al-Ittihad and Auckland City at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium.

International media coverage of the cup contest was also at its highest levels with 444 journalists in attendance for games at King Abdullah Sports City and Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal stadiums.

Fan zones at the grounds and other sites in Jeddah also proved popular with visitors.

Al-Ittihad’s French star Karim Benzema became the first player to score in four different editions of the FIFA Club World Cup, while Manchester City player Julian Alvarez’s first-minute strike in his team’s 4-0 final victory against Fluminense of Brazil, set the record for the fastest goal in the history of the tournament.

City’s Spanish coach Pep Guardiola became the most successful football manager in terms of winning the title, with his fourth success. And Al-Ahly from Egypt won the bronze medal for the fourth time.


Monika Staab steps down as technical director of women’s football in Saudi Arabia

Monika Staab steps down as technical director of women’s football in Saudi Arabia
Updated 56 sec ago
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Monika Staab steps down as technical director of women’s football in Saudi Arabia

Monika Staab steps down as technical director of women’s football in Saudi Arabia
  • A former player from Germany, she came to the Kingdom in August 2021 as the first head coach of the Saudi women’s national team
  • Appointed technical director in February 2023, she is credited with transforming the women’s game in the country and inspiring a new generation of players

RIYADH: The Saudi Arabian Football Federation announced on Friday the departure of Monika Staab, its technical director of women’s football, after more than three years with the organization.

She was credited with transforming the women’s game in the Kingdom during her tenure and for inspiring a new generation of players to take up the sport.

Staab, a former player from Germany, joined the federation in August 2021, initially as the first head coach of the Saudi women’s national team. The federation said her leadership and vision played a pivotal role in shaping its strategy for women’s football, driving growth both on and off the pitch. She was appointed technical director in February 2023.

She coached the women’s national team in their first-ever match, a landmark 2-0 victory over the Seychelles in February 2022. Under her guidance, the Kingdom launched its first regional league for women in 2021, followed by a national football championship in 2022.

Staab also spearheaded the introduction of under-17 and under-20 women’s national teams, laying the foundations for the development of future talent.

Staab leaves behind an extraordinary legacy of milestones that have shaped women’s football in Saudi Arabia, the federation said. (SAFF)

In March 2023, she helped the Saudi women’s national team secure its first-ever FIFA ranking, and this month they reached their highest-ever position, climbing eight places to 166th. The team is now about to begin its campaign to qualify for the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup.

Staab leaves behind an extraordinary legacy of milestones that have shaped women’s football in Saudi Arabia, the federation said.

“We bid farewell to Monika and thank her for helping to transform women’s football across Saudi Arabia,” said Lamia Bahaian, the organization’s vice president, as she expressed her deep gratitude for Staab’s contributions.

“Her vision, passion and tenacity have inspired us all. There are young girls across Saudi Arabia now playing football at all levels thanks to the work she has done and the impact she’s had.

“Although her time with SAFF has drawn to a close, her legacy will continue for generations.”

Bayan Sadagah, the captain of the women’s national team, said: “Monika has inspired both myself and all my teammates to believe in ourselves and our team. Our journey as a team is inspiring so many girls across the country to play and follow football, and I know we all wish her the very best for the future.”

The federation said women’s football has become a cornerstone of its strategy to grow the sport at all levels and participation has surged, with more than 70,000 schoolgirls playing football across the country.


Saudi Arabia conclude preparations for 26th Gulf Cup

Saudi Arabia conclude preparations for 26th Gulf Cup
Updated 20 December 2024
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Saudi Arabia conclude preparations for 26th Gulf Cup

Saudi Arabia conclude preparations for 26th Gulf Cup
  • The camp, which ran from Dec. 12 to Friday, put the Green Falcons through an intensive training program under the guidance of head coach Herve Renard

RIYADH: The Saudi national football team on Friday completed its preparatory training camp in Riyadh ahead of the start of the 26th Gulf Cup, set to take place in Kuwait from Saturday to Jan. 3 next year.

The camp, which ran from Dec. 12 to Friday, put the Green Falcons through an intensive training program under the guidance of head coach Herve Renard.

The final training session, held at Al-Shabab Club Stadium, included warm-up drills, possession exercises, and a mini-game played on half the pitch.

Star player Salem Al-Dawsari, who is returning from injury, participated in the warm-up exercises alongside his teammates and underwent additional specialized training with the fitness coach to fine-tune his readiness for the tournament.

Following the training session, the Saudi delegation departed for Kuwait.

Head coach Renard will hold a press conference on Saturday at the tournament’s media center at the Crown Plaza Hotel, where he will outline the team’s strategy and expectations ahead of their opening match against Bahrain on Sunday.

Saudi Arabia have won the Gulf Cup on three occasions — with the first title in 1994 and the last win coming in 2004 — and have been on the losing side of four finals since 2009.


Balancing act required from Renard and Saudi at 26th Arabian Gulf Cup

Balancing act required from Renard and Saudi at 26th Arabian Gulf Cup
Updated 20 December 2024
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Balancing act required from Renard and Saudi at 26th Arabian Gulf Cup

Balancing act required from Renard and Saudi at 26th Arabian Gulf Cup
  • Green Falcons will be taking a strong squad to Kuwait, but one eye will be on the resumption of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers
  • Bahrain and Iraq will see this tournament the same way as Saudi — a chance to lift a trophy but also to get ready for March’s crucial qualifiers

The last time the Arabian Gulf Cup rolled around was just after the 2022 World Cup and it was almost an afterthought for Saudi Arabia and head coach Herve Renard, especially as the Saudi Pro League was in full swing.

Not this time. As the 26th edition kicks off this week, all eyes are on Kuwait and whether the Green Falcons can find the form to lift the trophy and also ignite their faltering 2026 World Cup qualification campaign.

Winning the Gulf Cup for the first time since 2004 will be a big deal but the excitement and plaudits would quickly fade if the team miss out on the expanded 48-team World Cup. Renard has a tricky test to get the balance right: achieve results but also look ahead. Another failure would increase the already substantial pressure surrounding Saudi Arabia.

Qualification for the 2026 World Cup has not been going well. After six games in the third round, Saudi Arabia have six points, with just that one win in China (courtesy of a last-minute Hassan Kadesh header) to look back on. With only the top two certain of going to the World Cup and Japan already nine points clear, the other five teams are separated by just a single point. It is going to be a brutal race for second and if the Green Falcons do not improve before March’s games then everything is in doubt. 

The Gulf Cup is also important for Renard. The Frenchman returned in October to replace Roberto Mancini. Renard may only have ended his first spell just over 18 months earlier, but he needs time to get to grips with the team. His first game in November was a battling 0-0 draw in Australia, an encouraging start that was quickly followed by a 2-0 loss at the hands of Indonesia in Jakarta. 

Against that background comes the Gulf Cup. There are no Saudi Pro League games meaning that, unlike last time, Renard will take his strongest side to compete in the eight-team tournament that is split into two groups of four with the top two going into the semis. Saudi Arabia are in Group B and kick off against Bahrain on Sunday — a rival for that second spot in World Cup qualification — before Yemen on Dec. 25 and Iraq three days later. 

Even assuming, as expected, Yemen end up fourth and last, it should be a tough few days. Bahrain and Iraq will see this tournament the same way as Saudi — a chance to lift a trophy but also to get ready for March’s crucial qualifiers. Getting to the final is not just an objective in its own right but also means five competitive games and valuable preparation time.

The biggest issue for Saudi Arabia is obvious: goals, or rather the lack of them. Three scored in six qualifiers is a shocking statistic and none in the last four is even worse. Defender Kadesh scored twice from set pieces in the second matchday against China which followed Musab Al-Juwayr’s equaliser against Indonesia in the opening game. The strikers have not found the target at all. If these issues continue then Saudi Arabia are going to miss out on the World Cup.

Firas Al-Buraikan, Saleh Al-Shehri and Abdullah Al-Hamdan are all familiar names while Abdullah Radif is an increasingly regular face at international level. Renard needs to get these forwards firing, or at least one of them. 

There is some encouraging news. In this week’s friendly, played behind closed doors  to the media as well as fans, Saudi Arabia defeated Trinidad and Tobago 3-1. Both Al-Shehri and Al-Hamdan were on target. With the poor results of late and the negative publicity around the team, it was perhaps a wise decision to make the match low-key and Renard will be hoping that his strikers now have a little more confidence.

The injury to Salem Al-Dawsari makes it all a little harder. The team’s talisman and best creative talent is likely to miss the early stages, meaning that others will have to step up. There may be a chance for some younger talents such as Ayman Fallatah, Abdulmalik Al-Oyayari, Abdulaziz Al-Othman and Mohammed Al-Qahtani to make a name for themselves but the old stalwarts at the back such as Ali Al-Bulaihi, Sultan Al-Ghannam (though these two missed training Wednesday due to minor ailments) and Yasser Al-Shahrani need to play their part.

In short, the pressure is on. The Gulf Cup could be the catalyst for change that Renard and Saudi Arabia are looking for after a disappointing 2024.


Saudi Arabia to compete in 2025 and 2027 CONCACAF Gold Cups

Saudi Arabia to compete in 2025 and 2027 CONCACAF Gold Cups
Updated 19 December 2024
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Saudi Arabia to compete in 2025 and 2027 CONCACAF Gold Cups

Saudi Arabia to compete in 2025 and 2027 CONCACAF Gold Cups
  • The Green Falcons were invited to participate as a guest nation in the tournaments alongside 15 other teams
  • The 2025 competition will be hosted by the US and Canada at 14 stadiums in 11 cities between June 14 and July 6

RIYADH: The Saudi Arabian national football team will compete at the CONCACAF Gold Cup in 2025 and 2027, organizers announced on Thursday. They were invited to take part as a guest nation.

Next year’s tournament, hosted by the US and Canada, will run from June 14 to July 6. The Green Falcons, led by coach Herve Renard, will join eight teams that have already qualified: Curacao, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Haiti, Mexico, Panama, and the two host nations. The remaining seven participants will be decided by qualifiers scheduled for March.

The draw for the tournament will take place on April 10. Matches will be played at 14 stadiums in 11 cities, five of which will also host games during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Following the announcement, Yasser Al-Misehal, president of the Saudi Football Federation, thanked the Kingdom’s leaders for their unwavering support for the nation’s sports sector, and football in particular. He praised Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal, the minister of sports and president of the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee, for the pivotal role he has played in bolstering the global presence of Saudi football.

The first Gold Cup took place in 1991. Between 1996 and 2005, CONCACAF invited a guest nation to compete, with Brazil, South Korea and South Africa among those participating. After 16 years with no guest teams, 2022 World Cup hosts Qatar were invited to take part in the 2021 and 2023 competitions.


Green Falcons defeat Trinidad and Tobago ahead of Gulf Cup

Green Falcons defeat Trinidad and Tobago ahead of Gulf Cup
Updated 18 December 2024
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Green Falcons defeat Trinidad and Tobago ahead of Gulf Cup

Green Falcons defeat Trinidad and Tobago ahead of Gulf Cup
  • Falcons eased to a 3-1 win over the islanders
  • Saleh Al-Shehri, Abdullah Al-Hamdan and Nasser Al-Dosari on target

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia defeated Trinidad and Tobago by 3-1 in a match held behind closed doors at Al-Shabab Club Stadium in Riyadh.

The match was part of the Green Falcons’ preparations for their participation in the 26th Arabian Gulf Cup, which will take place in Kuwait.

Saleh Al-Shehri scored the first Saudi goal from a penalty kick, Abdullah Al-Hamdan doubled the lead, and Nasser Al-Dosari completed the scoring for the Falcons.

Head coach Herve Renard gave all the squad a run by playing two different lineups in each half.