Saudi Arabia is preparing young footballers for World Cup 2034 squad, says federation president

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Yasser AlMisehal, president of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation speaks at a press conference in Riyadh on Wednesday Dec. 11.
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Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki AlFaisal, Minster of Sports and president of the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee speaks at a press conference in Riyadh on Wednesday Dec. 11. (AN Photo)
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Updated 12 December 2024
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Saudi Arabia is preparing young footballers for World Cup 2034 squad, says federation president

  • Contests for athletes under 6 being planned, says Yasser Al-Misehal
  • Aspiring Green Falcons players must ‘care’ about training, discipline

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia is preparing young footballers for the nation’s 2034 World Cup squad, according to the president of the Kingdom’s football association.

Answering a question from Arab News at a press conference on Wednesday following the announcement of the Kingdom as host, Saudi Arabian Football Federation President Yasser Al-Misehal highlighted the nation’s preparations for the 2034 Green Falcons side.

“My message to them that the dream we all had, to witness the World Cup in our country, has become a reality.

“My message to them is to be disciplined, to care about training, to care about all aspects of life, and we will hopefully see them in green in 2034 representing the team of the dearest country and achieving results that make us all proud as Saudis.”

In addition to under-17 tournaments, Al-Misehal said competitions are being held for under-11 players, and by 2027 for those under 6 years of age.

There are already several Saudi Arabia national team members playing for European clubs, including Saud Abdulhamid for Roma and Faisal Al-Ghamdi and Marwan Al-Sahafi for the Belgian team Beerschot.

Al-Misehal also spoke about the responsibility to deliver a successful event for the Kingdom’s football-loving population. “Today we are talking about more than 60 percent of the Saudi population being under 30 years old.

“A population that adores football … more than 80 percent of Saudis watch football daily. This places a great responsibility on us to present an edition that is suited to the ambitions of these audiences,” he said.

Al-Misehal added that the Kingdom had the support of more than 140 countries after announcing its intention to bid in October 2023.

“You feel the awe of the name of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. You feel hundreds of messages pouring in … from all over the world, congratulating the Kingdom … it is a proud feeling,” he said.

It has not yet been decided if the World Cup will be held in summer or winter. Al-Misehal said discussions with FIFA would hopefully be settled next year, but that “we are ready anywhere and at any time.”

Sports Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal, who is also president of the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee, said the Kingdom’s 18-section bid file had been six years in the making, with weekly meetings keeping track of every detail.

The country’s submission was uncontested after Australia dropped out of the running, but nonetheless received the highest-ever rating from FIFA.

“It’s an indescribable feeling, for us and for anyone, it is a dream to host the biggest event in the world, not just in sports,” Prince Abdulaziz said.

“This is indicative of the care of our wise leadership on this matter, on our athletes, and on developing sports in the Kingdom, as well as the determination of Saudi youth working in the Ministry of Sports, the Saudi Arabian Football Federation, the World Cup bid unit. I thank you.”

“We promise everyone that the work will continue,” Prince Abdulaziz added, referring to developments taking place in transport and tourism.

King Salman reportedly said: “Through its people’s determination and spirit the Kingdom has succeeded in consolidating its position as one of the most prominent international sports destinations.”

Saudi Arabia intends to make history as the first single country to host a 48-team tournament.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said in a statement: “We look forward to hosting an exceptional and unprecedented edition of the FIFA World Cup by harnessing our strengths and capabilities to bring joy to football fans around the world.”

Celebrations broke out across the Kingdom on Wednesday evening as the news broke.

The tournament’s 15 stadiums are in Riyadh, Jeddah, Abha, Alkhobar and NEOM.


KSrelief’s 11th aid plane lands at Damascus airport

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KSrelief’s 11th aid plane lands at Damascus airport

  • KSrelief dispatched dozens of aid trucks and planes after collapse of Assad regime

RIYADH: The 11th Saudi relief plane landed at Damascus International Airport in on Wednesday as part of a humanitarian airlift launched by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid & Relief Centre.

After the collapse of Bashar Assad’s regime early in December, KSrelief has sent dozens of trucks and planes loaded with food, shelter, and medical supplies to meet the urgent basic needs of Syrians.


Experts discuss AI’s role in enhancing pilgrim experiences

Updated 4 min 4 sec ago
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Experts discuss AI’s role in enhancing pilgrim experiences

  • Discussions at Jeddah conference focus on crowd control, personalized services, sustainable solutions
  • Tamer Bdran, vice president of NEC Saudi Arabia Ltd., discussed the role of global technical solutions tailored to the unique needs of Hajj and Umrah

JEDDAH: Industry experts gathered to discuss how artificial intelligence can enhance the Hajj and Umrah experience for millions of pilgrims worldwide.

The discussions took place at the fourth Hajj and Umrah Services Conference and Exhibition in Jeddah, running until Jan. 16.

The event, themed “The Road to the Nusuk,” is hosted by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah and the Pilgrim Experience Program, featuring over 300 local and international organizations showcasing innovations to improve the pilgrim experience.

The conversation began with an overview of the current state of Hajj and Umrah, with speakers noting that only 5 percent of available technical capabilities have been utilized so far.

Mohammed Al-Hamid, director of the AI Center at the Ministry of Interior, shared in the session “Personalizing Services for the Guests of Allah: Data and Digital Solutions” that the ministry has made significant progress in data and AI infrastructure.

He added that the ministry has played a key role in transforming the Hajj and Umrah experience into a seamless journey driven by technological innovation.

Al-Hamid said that AI can help manage crowds by tracking movements, identifying potential hazards, and making real-time adjustments to traffic flow.

“We are using AI to develop long-term solutions that enhance the sustainability of Hajj services, including managing human density by analyzing crowd flow and predicting congestion, offering multilingual guidance, utilizing big data to anticipate pilgrims' needs, and efficiently distributing human and technical resources,” he added.

Speakers then expressed optimism about how AI could address the urgent need for faster and more effective services.

Abdulaziz Al-Matahami, deputy minister of planning and digital transformation at the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, said that the ministry first digitized traditional services, then moved to integrate government agencies to offer customized services for each pilgrim and Umrah performer.

He highlighted the new version of the Nusuk app, which provides comprehensive services such as hotel and flight reservations, historical tours, and permits for the Two Holy Mosques.

Al-Matahami also announced the launch of the Nusuk Business platform, aimed at enhancing integration with entrepreneurs to deliver innovative solutions for serving pilgrims.

In another session titled “Advanced Solutions and Technologies for Effective Crowd Management,” Fahad Al-Ghamdi, CEO of human resources at National Security Services Co., explained that the company operates as an integrated security system, offering consulting, risk analysis, and advanced technical solutions, such as mobile command and control centers with cameras supported by AI to analyze data in real time.

Tamer Bdran, vice president of NEC Saudi Arabia Ltd., discussed the role of global technical solutions tailored to the unique needs of Hajj and Umrah.

He said: “Technologies such as facial and fingerprint recognition, along with simulating crowd flow using supercomputing, have improved planning and reduced waiting times at ports and airports.”

Meanwhile, Saudi Ambassador to Spain Princess Haifa Al-Mogrin visited the Ministry of Interior’s pavilion at the conference. She was briefed on the ministry's efforts and initiatives to ensure a safe Hajj experience, including AI-enhanced security systems, digital solutions for crowd management at holy sites, the “No Hajj Without a Permit” campaign, and the Makkah Route initiative.


Saudi FM arrives in Thailand on official visit

Updated 42 min 13 sec ago
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Saudi FM arrives in Thailand on official visit

RIYADH: Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan arrived in Bangkok for an official visit to Thailand on Wednesday.

The prince is set to discuss the relationship between Thailand and Saudi Arabia, leading the Kingdom’s delegation at the inaugural meeting of the Saudi-Thai Coordination Council.


Saudi commission registers 3,202 new heritage sites

Updated 53 min 41 sec ago
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Saudi commission registers 3,202 new heritage sites

  • Newly registered sites include 16 in Riyadh, eight in Makkah, one in Qassim, two in the Eastern Province, 3,170 in Asir, two in Hail, one in Najran, and two in Baha
  • Commission encouraged citizens and residents to report unregistered heritage sites via the Balagh platform, official social media accounts, or local branches

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Heritage Commission has registered 3,202 new sites in the National Urban Heritage Register, bringing the total to 28,202.

This reflects the richness of Saudi Arabia’s heritage and efforts to document and protect it, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.

The newly registered sites include 16 in Riyadh, eight in Makkah, one in Qassim, two in the Eastern Province, 3,170 in Asir, two in Hail, one in Najran, and two in Baha.

This registration follows the promulgation of the Antiquities, Museums and Urban Heritage Law; and a decision by the commission’s board of directors authorizing its CEO to register and protect heritage and archaeological sites.

The commission encouraged citizens and residents to report unregistered heritage sites via the Balagh platform, official social media accounts, or local branches.


Saudi FM discusses regional developments with Russian counterpart

Updated 24 min 26 sec ago
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Saudi FM discusses regional developments with Russian counterpart

RIYADH: Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan discussed regional developments and bilateral relations during a phone call with Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov on Wednesday. 

The ministers discussed bilateral ties and regional developments, a statement on the Saudi foreign ministry account on platform “X”.