June 28 – Mexico made hard work of overcoming Saudi Arabia 2-0 to book their place in the Gold Cup semi-final. Second half goals from Alexis Vega and Santiago Gimenez secured the win against the Gold Cup guests.
June 27 – Cristiano Ronaldo has signed a record-breaking new two-year contract with Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr, worth a staggering £492 million in basic salary, making it the most lucrative deal in sports history, according to reports.
Saudi Arabia 1 Trinidad and Tobago 1
June 22 – Saudi Arabia lived dangerously at the end of their final group encounter against Trinidad and Tobago at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas to secure a spot in the quarter finals. Having dominated possession for most of the game, Trinidad came to life in the final 15 minutes but failed to put away a succession of chances.
USA 1 Saudi Arabia 0
June 19 – American comedian Rodney Dangerfield used to say, “I don’t get no respect.” The same could be said for the United States Men’s Soccer Team as barely 10,000 fans showed up for a supporter friendly 8.15pm kickoff versus Concacaf Gold Cup, Group D opponents, Saudi Arabia in a 1-0 win that again raised more questions than answers.
Haiti 0 Saudi Arabia 1
June 15 – Saudi Arabia opened their second appearance at Concacaf’s Gold Cup with a 1-0 win over Haiti on a baking hot San Diego early evening. It was a result that was against the run of play but not undeserved.
June 11 – Australia secured the last automatic qualification slot for the World Cup 2026 with a 2-1 win over Saudi Arabia, sending the 2034 World Cup hosts to October’s playoffs where six nations will battle for the two remaining guaranteed slots at the finals.
June 6 – Saudi Arabian money is underpinning FIFA’s expanded Club World Cup. With DAZN spending close to $1 billion on Club World Cup broadcast rights shortly after a $1 billion investment in the company by Saudi’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), PIF has now splashed its cash again, this time becoming the main sponsor of the tournament that is currently looking a little unloved.
May 28 – Kings League, the disruptive seven-a-side football concept launched by Gerard Piqué, is expanding into the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region through a new joint venture with Saudi-based SURJ Sports Investment.
Saudi Arabian coach Hervé Renard has returned to Saudi Arabia for a second term in charge of the national team that has faltered in 2026 World Cup qualification, but where the expectations of a football-loving nation are sky high.
Mauricio Pochettino needs to put the disastrous performances of the Nations League in March behind him and his team. The Gold Cup is the perfect opportunity but with key players resting or not being released how will be adapt a year out from 2026.
Saudi Arabia participated in the CONCACAF Gold Cup as a guest once before, in 1998, finishing in third place. They are set to participate as a guest team in the 2025 and 2027 tournaments following an invitation in December 2024, shortly after Saudi Arabia was selected to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup.
April 25 – The revamped Asian Champions League Elite has reached the quarter final stage with Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal SFC kicking off against South Korea’s Gwangju FC tonight in the first of the single leg ties at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah.
April 22 – Uzbekistan clinched a second AFC U17 Asian Cup title on Sunday night in Taif, overcoming a two-man disadvantage to defeat host nation Saudi Arabia 2-0 in a pulsating final that underlined their rising stature in Asian youth football.
April 22 – FIFA World Cup 2034 hosts Saudi Arabia have stated they would welcome an expanded 64-team tournament.
March 4 – Following months of heated debate about VAR and a vote to retain the technology, the Norwegian Football Federation (NFF) has also decided not to boycott the 2034 World Cup in Saudi Arabia.