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Saudi Pro League and OneFootball team up on official video and editorial content

Saudi Pro League and OneFootball team up on official video and editorial content
OneFootball kicked off their collaboration with the Saudi Pro League during the recent ‘Derby Week’, which included the clash between champions Al-Hilal and Riyadh rivals Al-Nassr. (SPL)
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Updated 28 November 2024
Arab News
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Saudi Pro League and OneFootball team up on official video and editorial content

Saudi Pro League and OneFootball team up on official video and editorial content
  • Fans can access match clips, highlights, behind-the-scenes footage and viral moments
  • Omar Mugharbel: ‘This collaboration is an important step in our commitment to increasing international engagement’
Updated 28 November 2024
Arab News
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RIYADH: The Saudi Pro League and OneFootball have announced a new partnership aimed at expanding the global visibility of one of the world’s fastest-growing football leagues.

Through this collaboration, the SPL will publish and amplify official video and editorial content across OneFootball, bringing worldwide fans closer to the action than ever before.

As part of the partnership, OneFootball will feature video content on its platforms, including content from the SPL’s official social channels. Fans can look forward to match clips, highlights, behind-the-scenes footage and viral moments in vertical and horizontal formats. This initiative aims to enhance the fan experience by providing visual narratives throughout the season.

“We are delighted to partner with OneFootball to bring Saudi Pro League content to football fans across the globe,” said Omar Mugharbel, CEO of the Saudi Pro League. “This collaboration is an important step in our commitment to increasing international engagement and providing fans everywhere with a closer connection to the excitement and passion of Saudi football.”

In addition to video content, OneFootball will offer official editorial coverage from the SPL in English, ensuring that fans can access timely updates, in-depth analysis, and expert commentary throughout the season.

Patrick Fischer, CEO at OneFootball, said: “We are thrilled to partner with the Saudi Pro League to showcase the incredible talent and excitement of football in the region. This collaboration will elevate the league’s content and enhance the overall fan experience, bringing the vibrant world of Saudi football to a wider audience.”

To kick off the collaboration, representatives from OneFootball recently travelled to Saudi Arabia to cover the Saudi Pro League’s “Derby Week,” attending the “Sea Derby” in Jeddah between Al-Ittihad and Al-Ahli, as well as the “Capital Derby” in Riyadh, featuring Al-Nassr and Al-Hilal. OneFootball’s content provided exclusive social media content, behind-the-scenes moments, and in-depth interviews with league representatives, managers and players.

OneFootball will be a primary outlet for publishing the SPL’s official text and video content for global audiences, with the aim of enhancing fan engagement and fostering a deeper connection between the league and its supporters.

Topics: football Saudi Pro League

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Messi, Ronaldo only World XI nominees from clubs outside Europe as voted by players

Messi, Ronaldo only World XI nominees from clubs outside Europe as voted by players
Updated 03 December 2024
AP
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Messi, Ronaldo only World XI nominees from clubs outside Europe as voted by players

Messi, Ronaldo only World XI nominees from clubs outside Europe as voted by players
  • The 37-year-old Messi and 39-year-old Ronaldo were the only players not with clubs in Europe to be voted on a 26-man shortlist for the world team of the year
  • FIFPRO said the final team will include the highest-polling goalkeeper, plus each of the top three vote-getters among defenders, midfielders and forward
Updated 03 December 2024
AP

HOOFDDORP, Netherlands: Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are still popular and respected by their fellow players even though they no longer play for European clubs.

The 37-year-old Messi and 39-year-old Ronaldo were the only players not with clubs in Europe to be voted on a 26-man shortlist for the world team of the year organized by global players’ union FIFPRO on Monday.

The other 24 nominees played in the past year with clubs in England, Germany, Spain and France, though Kylian Mbappé was the only French connection after spending last season at Paris Saint-Germain.

No player from any Italian club was selected, nor from any club in South America or Africa.

Eight players from Real Madrid, including Mbappe, Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham were on the shortlist, plus seven from Manchester City including Ballon d’Or winner Rodri, Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland.

Lamine Yamal, the 17-year-old from Barcelona who was the breakout star of Spain’s European Championship title, also made it in polling by union members worldwide.

Messi, in Major League Soccer with Inter Miami, and Ronaldo, in Saudi Arabia with Al-Nassr, will find out on Dec. 9 if they are in the World XI lineup.

FIFPRO said the final team will include the highest-polling goalkeeper, plus each of the top three vote-getters among defenders, midfielders and forward. The final place goes to the outfield player with the next highest votes total.

The Netherlands-based union said 28,000 players from 70 countries sent votes.

Goalkeepers: Ederson (Manchester City, Brazil), Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa, Argentina), Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich, Germany).

Defenders: Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid, Spain), Ruben Dias (Manchester City, Portugal), Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool, Netherlands), Jeremie Frimpong (Bayer Leverkusen, Netherlands), Antonio Rudiger (Real Madrid, Germany), William Saliba (Arsenal, France), Kyle Walker (Manchester City, England).

Midfielders: Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid, England), Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City, Belgium), Phil Foden (Manchester City, England), Toni Kroos (Real Madrid, Germany), Luka Modrić (Real Madrid, Croatia), Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich, Germany), Rodri (Manchester City, Spain), Federico Valverde (Real Madrid, Uruguay).

Forwards: Erling Haaland (Manchester City, Norway), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich, England), Kylian Mbappe (Paris Saint-Germain/Real Madrid, France), Lionel Messi (Inter Miami, Argentina), Cole Palmer (Manchester City/Chelsea, England), Cristiano Ronaldo (Al-Nassr, Portugal), Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid, Brazil), Lamine Yamal (Barcelona, Spain).

Topics: Lionel Messi Cristiano Ronaldo FIFPro World XI

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Beterbiev-Bivol rematch date announced in ‘one of the greatest cards ever’

Beterbiev-Bivol rematch date announced in ‘one of the greatest cards ever’
Updated 03 December 2024
Arab News
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Beterbiev-Bivol rematch date announced in ‘one of the greatest cards ever’

Beterbiev-Bivol rematch date announced in ‘one of the greatest cards ever’
Updated 03 December 2024
Arab News

RIYADH: Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol will meet in Riyadh for the much anticipated rematch for the undisputed world light heavyweight crown on Feb. 22, organizers announced early Wednesday.
Beterbiev was victorious against Bivol by majority decision in October at IV Crown Showdown in the Saudi capital.
Turki Alalshikh, the head of the Saudi General Entertainment Authority, announced the fights and said the event has “one of the greatest cards ever”.
The Riyadh Season event, dubbed “The Last Crescendo” features a stacked card of championship fights including a matchup between Daniel Dubois and Joseph Parker for the IBF heavyweight title.

The other under card clashes include:

Shakur Stevenson v Floyd Schofield
Carlos Adams v Hamzah Sheeraz
Vergil Ortiz Jr v Israil Madrimov
Joshua Bautsi v Callum Smith
Zhilei Zhang v Agit Kabayel

 

Topics: boxing

No Ronaldo, no points: Al-Nassr suffer last-minute loss

No Ronaldo, no points: Al-Nassr suffer last-minute loss
Updated 03 December 2024
John Duerden
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No Ronaldo, no points: Al-Nassr suffer last-minute loss

No Ronaldo, no points: Al-Nassr suffer last-minute loss
  • Al-Sadd claim victory with penalty
Updated 03 December 2024
John Duerden

RIYADH: A last-minute penalty gave Al-Sadd a 2-1 win over Al-Nassr to end the unbeaten record of the Saudi Arabian club in the AFC Champions League Elite.

The one positive, on a night when the Yellows did not impress against the Qataris, is that they had already secured a place in the round of 16 and are still in third.

In the absence of the rested Cristiano Ronaldo, who was watching from the sidelines, Talisca did his best to step up early on. The Brazilian fired an early shot wide and came closer after 17 minutes when he hit a post. He should have scored from close range as he was found by a smart Sadio Mane pass but while Meshaal Barsham was beaten, Talisca’s shot came back off the woodwork.

That near miss came just after Al-Sadd should have taken the lead. Marcelo Brozovic played a blind pass across the face of the penalty area and right into the path of Cristo Gonzalez. The Spaniard was completely unmarked on the edge of the area but his low shot was saved by Bento.

Mane should have broken the deadlock in the 24th minute. The former Liverpool and Bayern Munich forward got on the end of a Sultan Al-Ghannam cross that was swinging into the area from the right, but his diving header at the far post went just wide. So too did a low Angelo shot from outside the box that had Barsham scrambling to get down.

Eight minutes after the restart, Al-Sadd took the lead. Akram Afif ran onto a through pass from Gonzalez, outpaced Mohammed Al-Fatil and then, from just inside the area, calmly rolled the ball past the diving Bento and into the far corner.

Al-Nassr came back at the hosts with Aymeric Laporte and Wesley having attempts on goal, and with 19 minutes remaining Mane went even closer by hitting the post.

Then, with 10 minutes left, Al-Nassr got back on level terms. It may have been an own goal but much of the credit must go to Wesley who got to the left byline to fire over a low cross that was turned in from close range by Romain Saiss.

But Al-Sadd then won it. Adam Ounas stroked home from the penalty spot in the 99th minute after Al-Fatil had brought down Afif. It sent the Qatari club into the round of 16.

Earlier in the day, two penalties from Ivan Toney gave group leaders Al-Ahli a 2-2 draw at home to Esteghlal as Pitso Mosimane returned to Jeddah after being dismissed in 2023, and became the first coach to take some reward from his former club in the tournament.

Twice Al-Ahli had to come back from behind. The Iranians took the lead three minutes before the break, Raphael Silva volleying home past Edouard Mendy after a free-kick was floated into the area by Jaloliddin Masharipov.

At the end of the half Riyad Mahrez hit the bar, but there was still time before the interval for Al-Ahli to draw level. Didier Ndong brought down Fahad Al-Rashidi and Toney stepped up to make no mistake.

Mohammad Hossein Eslami put the Tehran giants back in front seven minutes into the second half with a spectacular volley from the edge of the area.

But Esteghlal’s hopes for a famous win were dealt a blow nine minutes from time when Eslami received a red card.

Toney scored from the spot again with four minutes remaining, his fourth in the space of a week, and Al-Ahli thought they had won it in added time when Firas Al-Buraikan netted but it was ruled out by VAR. The Greens, though, stay top of the group.

Topics: football soccer Saudi Arabia AFC Champions League Elite AFC Champions League Al-Nassr Cristiano Ronaldo SPL Al-Nassr

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Saudi Pro League reveals vision for football growth, global impact

Saudi Pro League reveals vision for football growth, global impact
Updated 02 December 2024
Aisha Fareed
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Saudi Pro League reveals vision for football growth, global impact

Saudi Pro League reveals vision for football growth, global impact
  • Speakers at World Football Summit highlight rapid progress in both men’s and women’s games in the Kingdom
  • Potential for investment in Saudi football is huge, Al-Hilal head coach Jose Herrera tells Riyadh forum
Updated 02 December 2024
Aisha Fareed

RIYADH: At the World Football Summit in Riyadh, leaders from the Saudi Pro League gathered to discuss the league’s rapid evolution and its broader vision for football in the Kingdom.
SPL CEO Omar Mugharbe, along with Monika Staab, women’s football technical director for the South Asian Football Federation, and Jose Herrera, head coach of Al-Hilal, shared insights on the league’s transformation, its growing appeal to global audiences, and plans for long-term development in both men’s and women’s football.
“I think it’s important that we continue to open our doors to welcome people to experience things firsthand,” Mugharbe said during a panel titled “Inside the Revolution: unveiling SPL’s transformation,” emphasizing the league’s commitment to transparency and inclusivity.
“The work that is happening across the board when it comes to support, transformation, and development is happening not only with the league but … our approach to transformation is really looking at every single aspect of the game. Once you come and see and experience what’s really happening on the ground, you’ll definitely (have) a completely different opinion and will be a believer,” he said.
Mugharbe’s comments reflect the sweeping changes happening across the league, from improving the standard of football to creating a more open, inviting environment for both fans and international stakeholders.
“Global audiences are starting to see a lot of attraction in terms of media looking at the stadiums,” he added. “I would definitely want to share and support our love for the game, how competitive our league is, and how deeply ingrained football is within our society. Football is definitely a key.”
The discussion then shifted to women’s football, with Staab offering her perspective on the growth of the women’s game in Saudi Arabia in a panel discussion titled “Unraveling the opportunities for women’s football: the need to better understand ground reality for long-term impact.”
“When I arrived here, I couldn’t believe what I saw,” Staab said, reflecting on the enthusiasm and commitment of young female players in the Kingdom.
“These girls should have their opportunity to play football. They love the game. Saudi has just started, and we are doing grassroots programs. And this is important.”
Drawing a striking comparison with the history of women’s football in Germany, Staab noted how quickly Saudi Arabia is advancing. “It took us 40 years in Germany before this happened, and only three years here in Saudi Arabia,” she said, highlighting the impressive progress the country has made in such a short time.
Herrera spoke about the potential for investment in Saudi football, particularly as the league continues to grow.
“If you are an investor and want to invest, do it here. This is the right place,” he said. “We are a league, we are a country that is growing rapidly. My players and all players here have the passion and commitment to the game.”
As the panelists highlighted at the Riyadh summit, the sport is changing rapidly in Saudi Arabia, with a commitment to both domestic growth and global expansion. The country’s infrastructure, investment opportunities, and development of both men’s and women’s football represent a new chapter in its footballing history.
With a strategic vision that focuses on grassroots development, inclusivity, and international collaboration, the SPL is well on its way to becoming a global force in the sport. As Mugharbe, Staab, and Herrera emphasized, the future of football in Saudi Arabia is not just about expanding a league, but also building a sustainable and thriving “football ecosystem” that can compete on the world stage.

Topics: World Football Summit (WFS) Omar Mugharbe Monika Staab Saudi Pro League (SPL)

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World Football Summit in Riyadh aims to shape future of game regionally

World Football Summit in Riyadh aims to shape future of game regionally
Updated 02 December 2024
Rashid Hassan
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World Football Summit in Riyadh aims to shape future of game regionally

World Football Summit in Riyadh aims to shape future of game regionally
  • Summit comes ahead of FIFA’s official announcement of Saudi Arabia as host of the 2034 World Cup, expected on Dec. 11
  • Jan Alessie: WFS Asia 2024 represents a crucial milestone in the evolution of football business in the GCC region
Updated 02 December 2024
Rashid Hassan

RIYADH: The World Football Summit kicked off on Monday in Riyadh, promising to be a key gathering for shaping the future of football in the Gulf Cooperation Council region and beyond.

Running from Dec. 2-3 with the participation of leading figures from the football world, the summit comes ahead of FIFA’s official announcement of Saudi Arabia as host of the 2034 World Cup, expected on Dec. 11.

The WFS Asia 2024 in Riyadh follows on from the first WFS held last year in Jeddah, which saw two days of discussions, strategic networking, and the acceleration of business and sports opportunities.

This year’s summit is expected to welcome more than 2,000 attendees, according to the Saudi Press Agency.

Participants will discuss various topics related to football development, including the integration of football technology and innovation in fan engagement, the development of sports tourism and sustainability in football, the growth of women’s football, and youth development programs.

The lineup of industry leaders taking part includes Hammad Albalawi, the Saudi FIFA World Cup 2034 bid head; Omar Mugharbel, Saudi Pro League CEO; Mauricio Macri, former Argentine president and FIFA executive chairman; Esteve Calzada, CEO of Al-Hilal; Monika Staab, SAFF women’s football technical director; James Bisgrove, CEO of Al-Qadsia Club; La Liga President Javier Tebas; and Juventus CMO Mike Armstrong.

Other representatives from premier football organizations include UEFA, the Saudi Pro League, Serie A, and clubs such as Manchester United and Al-Nassr, who will also contribute to discussions that will take place over the two-days.

“WFS Asia 2024 represents a crucial milestone in the evolution of football business in the GCC region,” said Jan Alessie, co-founder and director at World Football Summit.

“By bringing together the industry’s most influential voices in Riyadh, we are not just hosting an event — we are creating a platform that will accelerate the next chapter of football’s growth. The caliber of participants and the depth of discussions planned reflect our commitment to fostering meaningful dialogue and partnerships that will impact the entire football world.”

SAFF President Yasser Al-Misehal welcomed the guests to the conference, highlighting the significant progress the Kingdom is experiencing in hosting global sports events, supported by the Saudi leadership’s backing of the sports sector along with the Ministry of Sports.

He said that the WFS reflects the SAFF’s ongoing efforts to contribute to the advancement of football-related businesses that serve the global standing of Saudi football.

The summit’s agenda features panels such as “Saudi Arabia’s growing importance in World Football” and “One nation, one dream: The FIFA World Cup 2034 bid journey to success.”

Notably, the Saudi bid to host the FIFA World Cup 2034 has received a rating of 419.8 out of 500, the highest technical rating ever given to a file submitted to host the event, the federation said.

FIFA’s announcement came ahead of the federation’s general assembly on Dec. 11 to decide which countries would host the 2030 and 2034 World Cups, the Saudi Press Agency reported early on Saturday.

On July 29, a Saudi delegation led by Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki bin Faisal, minister of sport and president of the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee, and Al-Misehal officially submitted the Kingdom’s bid book to host the FIFA World Cup 2034 at a ceremony hosted in Paris, France.

Last October, a FIFA delegation arrived in the Kingdom to review the details of the bid. As proposed, 48 teams will be participating at venues in one country for the first time in history.

Topics: wfs asia 2024 Jan Alessie Hammad Albalawi

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