SAFF's Strategic Roadmap Aims To Prepare Saudi Football For The 2034 World Cup

Saudi Arabia has submitted its bid to host the 2034 World Cup. The Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) has outlined a comprehensive plan to prepare a generation of players for this event. This roadmap includes various projects and initiatives focused on team and technical management. The aim is to develop Saudi teams that can achieve the set goals over the next decade by enhancing the technical, physical, tactical, and mental aspects of future footballers.

Last week, SAFF announced that the Saudi national team, born in 2008, will join the Saudi Premier League under 17 years category (born in 2007) as an additional team starting from the 2024-2025 sports season. This move is supervised by the technical staff of the Green Juniors. It aims to prepare for the 2025 AFC U-17 Asian Cup, which qualifies for the 2025 World Cup, and other regional tournaments like the FIFA Arab Cup and West Asian Football Federation Cup. Importantly, this addition will not affect the points balance of existing teams.

The training sessions and some matches for this team will take place at Mahd Academy in Riyadh. This arrangement considers players' educational and family commitments. Additionally, SAFF sent 27 talented under-16-year-old players from the national team to Spain for a two-season traineeship as part of "The Future Falcons" scholarship program. This initiative aims to develop professional-level players through participation in friendly international tournaments.

In July, Taif hosted the first edition of the Regional Teams Championship under 13 years category, featuring players born in 2010. Fourteen regional teams participated, represented by 258 players selected from public and private clubs, accredited academies, and regional training centres. The championship aimed to identify young talents by selecting technically prominent players at a young age and involving them in friendly tournaments and courses.

The first participation for these selected players will be at the end of August in Spain. For the following sports season, SAFF's technical committee plans to hold the Regional Teams Championship for four age groups ranging from 11 to 14 years old. This effort aims to reach a larger pool of talented players across different age groups.

Expanding Training Centres

To further discover talent in Saudi football, SAFF is establishing a FIFA program for schools. This program will register talented players in training centres and qualify school teachers in cooperation with the Ministry of Education. Additionally, SAFF has increased regional training centres from 13 to 17 across various regions of Saudi Arabia to include players born between 2011 and 2014.

The SAFF Competitions Committee has restructured its competitions for age groups targeting players aged between 11 and 18 years old. They aim to involve these players in 64 competitions as part of the Saudi Football Transformation Strategy 2021. The committee also focuses on broadening competition participation across different age groups to support national teams effectively.

Financial Support for Clubs and Academies

Continuing its efforts to develop young footballers, SAFF approved an initiative supporting various age groups for three consecutive seasons with an estimated budget of SAR 75 million. This funding is allocated to public and private clubs as well as accredited academies. The initiative aims to adapt to changes in age group competition structures while ensuring steady progress within clubs and academies.

As part of their talent discovery strategy, SAFF organised several talent festivals across different regions with support from technical staff and team management. These festivals were coordinated with the Ministry of Education. Through these efforts, SAFF aims to ensure continuous improvement in outcomes by identifying promising young talents early on.

This comprehensive approach by SAFF reflects their commitment to nurturing future generations of footballers who can compete at international levels while contributing significantly towards achieving their long-term goals.

With inputs from SPA