Sports

Saudi sports minister promises to host ‘most exciting World Cup ever’

Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Sport, Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki al-Faisal, has said that the Kingdom is determined to deliver “the most exciting World Cup ever hosted” when it stages football’s biggest tournament in 2034.

Speaking on a panel at the inaugural TOURISE tourism conference in Riyadh, Prince Abdulaziz said the Kingdom’s transformation through sport, tourism, and wider economic diversification was no overnight project. Instead, he described it as part of a coordinated national effort designed to elevate Saudi Arabia’s global profile while improving opportunities for its people.

“We work as one entity – whether to grow sport, to grow tourism, to grow different fields of the economy and job creation,” he said.

“The message we got from His Royal Highness [Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman] is to have the most exciting and memorable World Cup ever hosted, and that’s the challenge we have to achieve,” he said.

But hosting the tournament is not simply about spectacle – with Prince Abdulaziz insisting that the priority is to deliver tangible benefits for Saudi citizens and the Kingdom’s economy.

“If you look at the number of tourists who come to such events, the economy gets ignited by hosting such events. It’s tremendous… We are not hosting these events just to host them – but to leave a legacy that will impact society and create a better future for the Kingdom.”

When Vision 2030 was first launched a decade ago, only 13 percent of Saudis were physically active for half an hour or more each week. The target was 40 percent by 2030 – a figure already surpassed. Prince Abdulaziz stressed that Saudi Arabia’s growing profile in world sport over the past few years has been grounded in a desire to improve participation at community level.

“This year, the numbers have shown that we’ve reached 59 percent,” he said. “Not just of half an hour or more but of 150 minutes per week of activity. That’s the reason for hosting such events – putting programs on the ground.”

Saudi Arabia now has 97 sports federations, up from 30 less than a decade ago – something Prince Abdulaziz credits to consistent policy and investment rather than short bursts of attention from global events.

“It has been an encouraging and inspiring transformation but we still have a lot to achieve to get to where we want to be,” he added.

Learning ahead for 2034

Eight years out from the FIFA World Cup being hosted in the Kingdom, Prince Abdulaziz confirmed there will be a major Saudi delegation heading to the 2026 tournament in the United States, Mexico and Canada on an important fact-finding mission.

“We’ll definitely be looking at what they’re doing and making sure we learn from them, because it’s going to be the first 48-team World Cup,” Prince Abdulaziz said.

“It will be a big challenge for us also, hosting in one nation, but I think with what we have showcased in the past – we can host such an event and make sure that we deliver on the expectation.

“We set our own standards and we work day and night to make sure we achieve these goals.”

The 2034 FIFA World Cup will be staged across five cities, with some estimates suggesting that attendances could total five million over the course of the tournament.

Sport has become a cornerstone of the Kingdom’s tourism strategy and Prince Abdulaziz recognizes the crucial role it has as many visitors’ first entry point into Saudi Arabia. He added that coordination between the Ministry of Sport and the Ministry of Tourism ensures that visitors experience the full breadth of the Kingdom.

“When you’re coming to an event, you also want to see what’s going on around it,” he said. “We have seen that many guests and fans who come to events later visit AlUla, the Red Sea or Asir in the south,” he said.

“The beauty of Saudi Arabia is that you can go from sea to desert to mountains to valleys, and enjoy everything the country offers.

“I think our biggest asset is the people… and this is something we should be very proud of as Saudis. A lot of people come from around the world attracted by the event but they leave feeling touched by the warmth of the Saudi people.”

Al Arabiya

Football

Iran to boycott 2026 World Cup draw after US visa denials

Iran’s Football Federation has announced it will boycott the final draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup after the US denied visas to several senior members of its delegation. The draw is set to take place on December 5 in Washington, D.C.

Federation spokesperson Amir Mehdi Alavi told state-run IRIB TV on Friday that the decision followed internal discussions and consultations with the Ministry of Sports and Youth and the Foreign Ministry. He described the US action as “non-sporting” and said it left the federation with no option but to withdraw.

FIFA notified as Tehran protests decision

Alavi confirmed that FIFA, including its President Gianni Infantino, has been formally notified of the boycott. He added that world football’s governing body has promised to look into the matter with urgency, Xinhua reported.

Iran ready for fourth straight appearance

Despite the setback, Iran remains firmly on the global stage. The national team has already secured its spot in the expanded 48-team tournament, co-hosted by the US, Canada and Mexico from 11 June to 19 July 2026.

This marks Iran’s fourth consecutive qualification and seventh overall, reinforcing its strong presence in Asian football.

Local media reports said the visa denials affected several top officials, including federation President Mehdi Taj. Only four members of the delegation — among them men’s national team head coach Amir Ghalenoei — were granted entry.

Taj currently serves as one of the vice presidents of the Asian Football Confederation and sits on several FIFA committees involved in competitions and men’s football governance.

Gulf News

Sports

17 red cards in match produce unbelievable scenes

Can you believe it? Seventeen red cards were dished out in a game of football. Seventeen red cards. A Copa Bolivia quarter final between Club Blooming and Real Oruro descended into complete chaos as a huge fight broke out and the referee sent off players coaches and staff before police stepped in with pepper spray.

Chaos in the Copa Bolivia.

There were unsavoury scenes after this game, with fights breaking out between opposing players and staff – 17 men were sent off!

A scuffle that exploded into full scale chaos

The flashpoint began when a scuffle erupted between some Blooming players and Oruro’s Sebastian Zeballos and Julio Vila. What looked like a routine argument exploded into full scale violence as punches and kicks flew from every direction. Staff members rushed in and the situation spiralled into one of the wildest scenes Bolivian football has witnessed. Oruro later shared an image of their coach Marcelo Robledo in hospital after being caught in the middle of the brawl.

Red cards galore

By the time the dust settled Oruro had four players shown red while Blooming lost seven of their own with six of them dismissed after the fight. Another six red cards went to members of the coaching and backroom teams including the Oruro coach. Blooming also revealed that a member of their security staff needed surgery for a fractured cheekbone following the violent clashes.

Incredibly the match still had a sporting outcome. Blooming advanced to the semi finals after winning the tie four three on aggregate thanks to their first leg lead. They now face Club Bolivar the reigning champions in a clash that arrives after a quarter final the country will not forget.

Gulf News

Ronaldo reacts as Portugal win the FIFA U-17 World Cup for the first time

Portugal have been crowned FIFA Under 17 World Cup winners for the first time after a 1–0 victory over Austria in the final. Anisio Cabral delivered the decisive strike in the 32nd minute at the Khalifa International Stadium in Al Rayyan in Qatar, sealing a historic moment for a nation with a proud record of youth development.

A landmark moment for Portuguese football

This title represents a major step forward for Portugal and reflects the progress of their youth system. It also comes in the same year they won the European Under 17 Championship after a convincing 3–0 win over France, which set the tone for their rise.

Cristiano Ronaldo sends his congratulations

Cristiano Ronaldo congratulated the team through his social media and his message quickly lit up among Portuguese fans. For many players in this squad he must be the defining role model and seeing their national icon acknowledge their success might have made their day even more special.

The journey to glory

Portugal began their group campaign with authority. They opened with a 6–1 victory over New Caledonia and followed it with a 6–0 win against Morocco. Their third group match was a more demanding contest and they lost 2–1 to Japan, finishing second in the group.

Their knockout run showed growing confidence. They beat Belgium 2–1 in the round of 32, then produced a superb 5–0 performance against Mexico in the round of 16. A controlled 2–0 win over Switzerland carried them into the semi finals, where they edged Brazil in a tense penalty shootout.

Cabral leads the way

Anisio Cabral was the standout figure for Portugal. His winning goal in the final crowned an excellent tournament in which he scored 7 goals. Only Austria’s Johannes Moser finished with more and claimed the Golden boot. Cabral’s sharp movement and clinical finishing have given him all the attention needed. Also, Portugal’s forward Mateus Mide received the Golden Ball award for his wonderful performance throughout the campaign. How many of them will make it big in their careers is something we have to wait and see

A promising future

The triumph is being hailed as a breakthrough for Portuguese youth football. With European and world titles secured in the same year, many believe this group could form a key part of the senior national team in the future.

The natural question now is whether the senior team can bring the success on the biggest stage in 2026. With this trophy added to Portugal’s growing collection, only two major titles remain unclaimed: the Senior World Cup and the Under 21 European Championship. Both feel within reach, with chances coming in 2026 and 2027.

Gulf News

Sports

Biggest ever Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

Preparations have moved into top gear with the start of the Formula 1® Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix programme now just 10 days away.

After Max Verstappen’s victory and McLaren’s double disqualification in Las Vegas, the championship is heading for a potential three-way showdown in Abu Dhabi. With just 24 points separating the leader, Lando Norris, from Oscar Piastri and Verstappen and 58 points on offer for the final two rounds there is a strong chance the title will be decided on the track of Yas Marina Circuit at the 24th and final race of the season from December 4-7.

After 12 months of planning and build-up, the final touches are now being applied across the island as all 10 F1 teams and 20 drivers, as well as eight headline acts, are set to arrive in the UAE.

Last year’s event drew 192,000 fans across four days, and early indications are that the 2025 event is on track to surpass that figure. Fans will travel from 105 countries – a testament to the event’s global reach.

WAM