Saudi women’s U-20 football team win against Mauritania

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This match results against Mauritania further solidified the Saudi team’s growing status and demonstrated their ability to compete at an international level, a SAFF statement said. (SAFF)
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Updated 10 March 2024
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Saudi women’s U-20 football team win against Mauritania

  • SAFF praises ‘significant milestone in development of women’s football in Saudi Arabia’
  • Federation says back-to-back matches against Mauritania demonstrate team’s ability to compete at international level

JEDDAH: The Saudi Arabian Football Federation has praised what it described as the incredible achievements of the newly established women’s U-20 national team after their historic back-to-back matches against Mauritania in Jeddah this week.

The first match took place on Wednesday, resulting in a 3-0 victory for Saudi Arabia, and was followed by a 1-1 draw against Mauritania on Saturday.

This result further solidified the team’s growing status and demonstrated their ability to compete at an international level, a SAFF statement said.

“These matches have been a testament to the hard work and commitment of our talented players. The success of the women’s U-20 national team represents a significant milestone in the development of women’s football in Saudi Arabia,” Aalia Al-Rasheed, head of the Women’s Football Department at SAFF, said.

“We are immensely proud of their achievements and remain committed to providing them with the support and opportunities they deserve.”

The matches formed an integral part of the nine-day training camp for the team. With a roster of 24 players, the training camp emerged as a crucial catalyst in driving the team’s progress.

The milestone serves as an inspiration for women and young girls across the Kingdom, highlighting the growing opportunities and support for women’s football in Saudi Arabia, the football federation said in its statement.


AC Milan’s Theo Hernandez joins Saudi side Al-Hilal

Updated 11 July 2025
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AC Milan’s Theo Hernandez joins Saudi side Al-Hilal

  • The 27-year-old French defender joins Al-Hilal on a three-year deal

Paris: Saudi club Al-Hilal on Thursday signed AC Milan’s French full-back Theo Hernandez on a three-year contract.
The 27-year-old leaves the Serie A side in a deal worth 25 million euros ($29.2 million), Italian media report.
Hernandez has played 38 times for France with two goals, and figured in the last World Cup, including the defeat by Argentina on penalties in the 2022 final in Qatar.
Moving to the Saudi Pro League a year before the next World Cup could be considered a risk for his chances of getting called up again by coach Didier Deschamps.
But he can take encouragement that Deschamps selected N’Golo Kante for Euro 2024 whilst he was playing for another Saudi club, Al-Ittihad.
Theo is the younger brother of Paris Saint-Germain and France defender Lucas Hernandez.


Saudi Pro League takes over financial oversight of clubs in major governance shift

Updated 07 July 2025
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Saudi Pro League takes over financial oversight of clubs in major governance shift

  • Ministry of Sport transfers oversight to new SPL committee
  • To improve ‘governance and financial sustainability’ of clubs

RIYADH: The Saudi Pro League announced on Sunday it had officially taken on the financial oversight of its clubs.

The announcement follows a decision by the Ministry of Sport to transfer oversight duties from the Financial Sustainability Committee to a newly established body under the league.

The move is designed to enhance financial governance, streamline regulatory processes, and strengthen institutional discipline within the rapidly growing Saudi football sector.

The committee will consist of representatives from the Ministry of Sport, the Saudi Arabian Football Federation, SPL, and include independent members.

“This is an important step toward unifying oversight, simplifying procedures, and promoting a more professional work environment across clubs,” the SPL said in a statement.

“The aim is to raise compliance levels and improve the speed and efficiency of financial reviews,” it added.

While the new mandate is limited to Saudi Pro League clubs, officials said the reform marks a broader commitment to improve governance and financial sustainability across the sport.

The SPL added that it would continue its work on existing oversight functions, such as tracking late payments and ensuring clubs meet their financial obligations, as a part of the existing certification process.

The issuance of financial competency certificates will remain a key condition for clubs to operate. In addition, new regulatory standards and planning tools are being gradually introduced.

These are intended to bolster long-term investment in club infrastructure and administration, while also helping clubs avoid financial distress through better discipline.

The SPL noted that the changes come in response to past financial and administrative challenges faced by several clubs, and reflect a coordinated effort between the SPL, ministry, and the SAFF to promote sustainable growth.

“This development is part of an integrated approach,” the SPL stated.

It is “aimed at supporting clubs in building strong, stable institutions that match the ambitions of their fans.”


NEOM’s new head coach: ‘I am excited to be part of the big Saudi project’

Updated 06 July 2025
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NEOM’s new head coach: ‘I am excited to be part of the big Saudi project’

  • Christophe Galtier left Qatari club Al-Duhail SC in May
  • The team have been busy preparing for the 2025-2026 campaign

TABUK: Newly promoted to the Saudi football League, NEOM Sports Club announced on Saturday the appointment of French head coach Christophe Galtier as their new manager.

Galtier left Qatari club Al-Duhail SC in May after two years as head coach where he guided them to the 2024-2025 Qatari Stars Cup.

The Frenchman won two Ligue 1 titles as a manager, coaching Lille OSC to the trophy in 2020-2021 and Paris Saint-Germain in 2022-2023, his only season in charge of Les Parisiens.

In a message on NEOM SC’s social media on Saturday, Galtier said: “I am really excited to be part of this big Saudi project. Happy to join one of the best leagues in the world. I cannot wait to write the story of NEOM Football Club.”

The team have been busy preparing for the 2025-2-26 campaign: this week they announced the signings of former Arsenal and Olympique Lyon forward Alexandre Lacazatte, Ivorian midfielder Amadou Kone and former Al Fayha defender Faris Abdi.

The club, based in Tabuk, was promoted to the Saudi Pro League at the end of last season, after finishing top of the Saudi First Division.


Fluminense beat Al Hilal 2-1 to reach Club World Cup semis

Updated 05 July 2025
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Fluminense beat Al Hilal 2-1 to reach Club World Cup semis

ORLANDO: Substitute Hercules struck a 70th-minute winner as Brazil’s Fluminense defeated Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal 2-1 on Friday to reach the semifinals of the Club World Cup.
A fine left-foot finish from Matheus Martinelli had put the Rio club ahead in the 40th minute but Al Hilal’s Brazilian forward Marcos Leonardo levelled six minutes into the second half before Hercules stole the show to the delight of the vast majority of the 43,091 crowd.
Fluminense could yet face an all-Brazilian semifinal if their rivals from Sao Paulo, Palmeiras, are able to overcome Premier League outfit Chelsea in Friday’s other quarter-final.
Al Hilal had pulled off the biggest upset of the tournament, beating Manchester City 4-3, to reach the last eight and Simone Inzaghi’s side fought hard until the end to keep their adventure alive.
They bow out of the tournament having been unbeaten through the group stage, including holding Real Madrid to a draw, and having truly made their mark on the world stage.
There was a moment’s silence before the kick-off in memory of Liverpool and Portugal forward Diogo Jota and his younger brother Andre Silva, who died in the early hours of Thursday after their car veered off a motorway in Spain and burst into flames.
Al Hilal’s line-up featured two of Jota’s Portugal team-mates in Ruben Neves and Joao Cancelo.
The first half was a tight and tactical affair with few chances until Martinelli opened the scoring when he picked the ball up from Gabriel Fuentes inside the box and span out to give himself space for a left-foot shot that rocketed past Yassine Bounou.
Al Hilal went close to a quick response when Kalidou Koulibaly’s header forced Fluminense’s 44-year-old goalkeeper Fabio into a fine save.
The Saudi side were awarded a penalty when Samuel Xavier was ruled to have brought down Marcos Leonardo in the box but Dutch referee Danny Makkelie was eventually sent to the monitor where he overturned his own decision after seeing there had been no contact between the two players.
After going in at the break trailing by a goal, Al Hilal came out strongly for the second half and drew level when Koulibaly headed a Neves corner down to Marcos Leonardo who poked home.
Al Hilal’s Brazilian full back Renan Lodi had a let off when his poor backpass fell straight at the feet of German Cano but the Fluminense striker’s attempt to round Bounou was denied by the smart work of the Moroccan keeper.
But the outcome was settled with 20 minutes remaining when half-time sub Hercules saw a shot from distance blocked but from the loose ball Samuel headed the ball back to the forward who raced into the box and fired past Bounou to make it 2-1.
Al Hilal produced a flurry of corners and some intense pressure in the final minutes as they desperately sought a way to keep their dream alive but the Brazilians were good value for their victory.
“We didn’t have many chances but we made the most of them, the entire group worked and were committed,” said Fluminense coach Renato Gaucho.
“Our fans here in the USA and those in Brazil, they can be proud and I ask them to wear a jersey, in the mall, street, beach, wherever, wear that shirt — they should all be proud to wear that jersey,” he said.
The Fluminense coach was full of praise for the performance of his 40-year-old central defender Thiago Silva who ensured the Brazilians were able to withstand the second half pressure from Al Hilal.
“Thiago Silva is huge for us, I worked with him 15 years ago, he is a coach on the pitch, very helpful and conveys calm and experience to the others. He is our captain and a leader and in hard matches like these against big clubs, its important to have people like him. He is key and fundamental,” he said.
Al Hilal coach Inzaghi said his side had been unfortunate to end on the losing side.
“It has been a good World Cup for us but clearly we leave with a little bit of a bitter taste in our mouth because after what happened in that second half, we deserved much more,” he said.
“It was a tight match, decided by episodes, as happens in football. Fluminense are very well organized team that are having an excellent tournament,” he added.


Russian foreign minister praises Al-Hilal’s ‘well-deserved’ win over Man City

Updated 04 July 2025
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Russian foreign minister praises Al-Hilal’s ‘well-deserved’ win over Man City

  • Sergey Lavrov hails victory in meeting with Saudi FM Prince Faisal bin Farhan
  • SPL team will play Fluminense in quarterfinal of Club World Cup on Friday

BEIRUT: Russia’s foreign minister on Friday congratulated Saudi Arabia and Al-Hilal following the team’s defeat of Manchester City in their FIFA Club World Cup round of 16 match earlier in the week.

“It was a remarkable and dramatic match and well-deserved victory,” Sergey Lavrov said during a meeting with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan in Moscow.

“I would like to conclude with congratulations to your football team Al-Hilal on a 4-3 win against Manchester City at the Club World Cup,” he said.

The meeting was part of the prince’s official visit aimed at strengthening relations between the two countries.

Lavrov’s comments caused a buzz on social media. One Russian user said on X: “Saudi Al-Hilal shines even in the corridors of power in Moscow!”

Several major news outlets also reported on Lavrov’s comments.

Sports editor Essa Aljokm wrote on X: “Al-Hilal on the political table … A team that translated the support of the leadership and the state, may God protect them, into the giant Saudi sports project. This time, it’s Lavrov, the Russian Foreign Minister.”

Al-Hilal made history on Monday night when they beat the English Premier League giants in Orlando. The Saudi Pro League team will now play Fluminense in the quarterfinal of the Club World Cup on Friday.

The Brazilian side beat Inter Milan 2-0 earlier on Monday.