Saudi Arabia to host FIFA Club World Cup 2023

Real Madrid's players celebrate with the trophy at the end of the most recent edition of the FIFA Club World Cup final after defeating Saudi Arabia's Al-Hilal in Rabat. (AFP)
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Updated 15 February 2023
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Saudi Arabia to host FIFA Club World Cup 2023

  • Tournament to be staged in Kingdom for first time from Dec. 12-22
  • Saudi Arabia will be only the sixth host of the competition since its inception in 2000

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has been chosen to host the next edition of the FIFA Club World Cup with the football tournament due to kick off in December.

The intercontinental competition, to be staged from Dec. 12 to 22, becomes the latest major international sporting event to be held in the Kingdom and will add further momentum to the development of the men’s and women’s game in the country at all levels.

The decision was made at a FIFA Council meeting on Tuesday and came just days after Al-Hilal faced Real Madrid having become the first winner of the AFC Champions League and first Saudi club to reach the final of the tournament.

Saudi Arabia will be only the sixth host of the competition since its inception in 2000.

Minister of Sport Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal said: “We are honored and extremely excited to be given the opportunity to welcome the world’s leading football clubs and their fans to Saudi Arabia.

“Many fans will have recently witnessed our ability as a nation to compete at the highest possible level on the pitch. Now we have the chance to prove we are also world-class hosts off it. We look forward to showcasing our genuine love of the game and our desire to be a force for good.

“Today is another important step forward on our journey of transformation in football and as a country and I trust all involved will see for themselves the undeniable progress being made at many different levels.

“We host international sports for the simple reason that we truly believe in the power of sport to inspire our boys and girls, to create new connections, and build new relationships.

“This will mean so much to our people where 70 percent are under the age of 35 and are absolutely obsessed with football,” the prince added.

Football is the national sport of Saudi Arabia, rooted in communities in all corners of country, where 80 percent of the population play, attend, or follow the game.

The awarding of the FIFA Club World Cup 2023 represents the latest chapter of Saudi football’s development. The Kingdom was also recently confirmed as host of the 2027 AFC Asian Cup and has an active bid in place to host the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup.

President of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation and newly elected FIFA Council member, Yasser Al-Misehal, said: “The FIFA Club World Cup is a special competition that has delivered incredible moments.

“Not only has it gifted many memories to millions across the globe, but the tournament has also created new international rivalries and forged new friendships within the game. We thank FIFA for their trust in us to deliver an exceptional edition of the event.

“Saudi football is going through an unprecedented period of growth, there is fresh energy and sense of optimism thanks to a clear strategy across all areas of the game.

“Currently we’ve more players registered at all age groups for boys and girls than ever before. We have more qualified coaches, more qualified referees, better governance, and stronger domestic leagues, including the SPL (Saudi Pro League).

“The future is bright, and this tournament is another highlight to look forward to especially when you consider some of the mouth-watering fixtures, and players who might take part,” Al-Misehal added.

The Saudi men’s first team marked their sixth FIFA World Cup appearance last year following a best-ever qualification campaign and captured global headlines in Qatar following their victory over eventual champions Argentina.

Meanwhile, their female counterparts have been on a historic run of growth and development since their establishment in 2021 and were recently crowned champions in their first-ever hosted international championship.

And the newly formed U-17 squad will hope to follow in their footsteps after this month undergoing their first training camp.

The exciting trajectory of growth for women’s football in Saudi Arabia continues with the conclusion of the inaugural eight-team SAFF Women’s Premier League.

There has also been a tremendous increase in sports participation across all levels in the Kingdom, with more than 200,000 girls practicing sports every week and 50,000 taking part in the first-ever Schools League.


Iraq hire former Australia boss Graham Arnold as head coach

Updated 15 sec ago
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Iraq hire former Australia boss Graham Arnold as head coach

Arnold left Australia in September
Iraq is third in Group B of Asian qualifying for the 2026 World Cup

BAGHDAD: Iraq hired former Australia boss Graham Arnold as head coach of its national team on Friday.
Arnold left Australia in September after six years in charge during which he took the Socceroos to the last 16 of the 2022 World Cup, where they lost to eventual winner Argentina.
Iraq is third in Group B of Asian qualifying for the 2026 World Cup and Arnold will start with two crucial games against leader South Korea in Basra on June 5 and second-placed Jordan in Amman five days later.
Six points from these two matches would seal Iraq’s place at the tournament for the first time since its 1986 debut.

FIFA Women’s World Cup to be expanded to 48 teams from 2031

Updated 24 min 14 sec ago
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FIFA Women’s World Cup to be expanded to 48 teams from 2031

  • The 48-team tournament will adopt a 12-group format, increasing the total number of matches from 64 to 104
  • The 2027 tournament in Brazil will remain at 32 teams

PARIS: The Women’s World Cup will be expanded from 32 to 48 teams, like the men’s competition, starting with the 2031 edition, FIFA announced on Friday.

The FIFA Council unanimously agreed to enlarge the competition “given the remarkable recent strides made by women’s football across the world,” the sport’s governing body said in a statement.

The 48-team tournament will adopt a 12-group format, increasing the total number of matches from 64 to 104 and extending the tournament by one week, FIFA said.
FIFA have still to ratify the 2031 and 2035 hosts.

The 2027 tournament in Brazil will remain at 32 teams.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino said the move followed the success of the 2023 World Cup in Australia won by Spain.

The 2023 tournament was “the first in which teams from all confederations won at least one game and teams from five confederations reached the knockout stage, among many other records, set a new standard for global competitiveness,” said Infantino.

“This decision ensures we are maintaining the momentum in terms of growing women’s football globally.

“This is not just about having 16 more teams playing ... but taking the next steps in relation to the women’s game in general by ensuring that more FIFA Member Associations have the chance to benefit from the tournament to develop their women’s football structures.”

The decision, FIFA said, will broaden representation, offering more nations and players access to elite competition and accelerating investment in women’s football worldwide.

The men’s tournament will be expanded to 48 teams for the World Cup in 2026, to be hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.


Liverpool’s Salah voted Football Writers’ Player of the Year

Updated 09 May 2025
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Liverpool’s Salah voted Football Writers’ Player of the Year

  • Salah earned the prize after scoring 28 goals and producing 18 assists for Liverpool
  • The Egypt forward broke the record for the most goal involvements

LONDON: Mohamed Salah won the Football Writers’ Association Player of the Year award for the third time on Friday after inspiring Liverpool’s march to a record-equalling 20th English title.

Salah earned the prize after scoring 28 goals and producing 18 assists for Liverpool in the Premier League this season.

The Egypt forward broke the record for the most goal involvements in a 38-game Premier League campaign as Arne Slot’s side romped to their first title since 2020.

Salah secured almost 90 percent of the football writers’ votes, marking the biggest winning margin this century.

Liverpool center-back Virgil van Dijk came second in the contest, with Newcastle striker Alexander Isak third and Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice fourth.

Salah, who was previously given the award in 2017-18 and 2021-22, is now level with former Arsenal forward Thierry Henry as the only players to win it three times.

The 32-year-old recently ended speculation over his future by signing a new two-year contract to stay at Anfield until 2027.

Salah’s decision to commit to Liverpool will make them favorites to win a record 21st title next season as they look to move ahead of Manchester United as England’s most successful top-flight club.

Alessia Russo became the second Arsenal player to land the women’s award as the striker finished ahead of last year’s winner Khadija Shaw.


Lionel Messi, Inter Miami turn focus to Minnesota United

Updated 09 May 2025
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Lionel Messi, Inter Miami turn focus to Minnesota United

  • The Loons will play Miami for only the second time ever
  • Inter Miami enter the match in fourth place in the Eastern Conference

MIAMI: Inter Miami embark on the first of back-to-back road trips in five days when they take on host Minnesota United on Saturday afternoon in Saint Paul, Minnesota.

The Loons (5-2-4, 19 points) will play Miami for only the second time ever and enter the contest a distant second in the Western Conference.

Minnesota is balancing league play with its push to try to win the US Open Cup, as it advanced to the Round of 16 on Wednesday with a 1-0 win over USL Championship club Louisville City FC.

Inter Miami (6-1-3, 21 points) enter the match in fourth place in the Eastern Conference. They were eliminated 3-1 by Vancouver in the semifinals of the Concacaf Champions Cup on April 30.

Miami can narrow its focus to league play over the next few weeks and try to continue making up ground in the standings coming off a 4-1 win over the New York Red Bulls last Saturday.

“We’re going to fight for the top spots in the Eastern Conference, and then we’ll see what comes (over the summer) with the Club World Cup and the Leagues Cup,” Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano said this week. “But right now, the most important game is the next one.”

Lionel Messi scored in Miami’s victory Saturday as did Luis Suarez, breaking droughts of four games across all competitions without goals for the two soccer legends.

Darius Randell scored the lone goal in the 65th minute against Louisville on an assist from Sang Bin Jeong.

Saturday’s game will feature a reunion of sorts as recently acquired midfielder Julian Gressel will face his former club, which waived him last month. Gressel started 31 games for Inter Miami last season.

“I’ve been waiting for this ever since I knew what my situation was in Miami and that was pretty early on,” Gressel told Minnesota reporters recently.

“They laid a pretty clear picture out for me, and I appreciated that, so we could try and come up with a solution. It took longer than I thought, but ultimately, I’m happy to be here.”


Rhodes, Tamburlini lead new generation at Aramco Korea Championship, part of PIF Global Series

Updated 09 May 2025
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Rhodes, Tamburlini lead new generation at Aramco Korea Championship, part of PIF Global Series

  • Duo to serve as captains in innovative team format
  • ‘It’s amazing to be back with my team after a short break, and I’m really excited for this stage of the season,’ says Rhodes

SEOUL: Rising stars Chiara Tamburlini and Mimi Rhodes are set to lead the competition at this week’s Aramco Korea Championship, part of the newly launched PIF Global Series.

The duo are to serve as captains at the tournament which was scheduled to begin on Friday and features an innovative team format.

The Seoul event will feature the young talents taking on leadership roles — reflecting growing confidence in the new generation of women golfing stars.

England’s Rhodes has had a remarkable start to her 2025 season, claiming her first two titles on the Ladies European Tour with victories at the Joburg Ladies Open and the Ford Women’s Open in New South Wales.

Rhodes, who turned professional in 2024, said: “I feel like I’m in a great place after those two wins. It’s amazing to be back with my team after a short break, and I’m really excited for this stage of the season.

“I didn’t expect to be a captain, but just hearing the idea gave me a real boost and confidence that I’m now among the top players.”

Swiss golfer Tamburlini enters the tournament with confidence following a historic 2024 season that saw her win titles in South Africa, France, and Taiwan.

She was crowned Rookie of the Year and topped the overall ranking on the Ladies European Tour.

Tamburlini led her team to victory at the Shenzhen and Riyadh events last year, becoming the first captain to win back-to-back team titles in a single season.

She said: “I’m super excited for this week. Team events are always fun, and I love being surrounded by players I enjoy competing with.

“As a captain it’s important to maintain team spirit and keep everyone motivated throughout the round. I recently played my first major in the US, which was a great learning experience. I hope to bring some of that here.”

Rhodes was part of Tamburlini’s winning team at last year’s Riyadh Championship, which marked her debut in the Aramco Team Series, now rebranded as the PIF Global Series.

All eyes are on the Aramco Korea Championship as it blends competitive golf with team camaraderie, aligning with Saudi Arabia’s broader efforts to expand its international presence in the sport.