Saudi football fans get a glimpse of FIFA Club World Cup trophy

Saudi football fans had the chance to view the FIFA Club World Cup trophy ahead of the competition in December when the tournament’s roadshow kicked off on Monday at the Sports Village at King Abdulaziz University. (AN Photo)
Saudi football fans had the chance to view the FIFA Club World Cup trophy ahead of the competition in December when the tournament’s roadshow kicked off on Monday at the Sports Village at King Abdulaziz University. (AN Photo)
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Updated 23 October 2023
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Saudi football fans get a glimpse of FIFA Club World Cup trophy

Saudi football fans get a glimpse of FIFA Club World Cup trophy
  • Tournament set to take place in Jeddah from Dec. 12-22 

JEDDAH: Saudi football fans had the chance to view the FIFA Club World Cup trophy ahead of the competition in December when the tournament’s roadshow kicked off on Monday at the Sports Village at King Abdulaziz University.

The trophy tour is part of plans aimed at promoting an active lifestyle among Saudi Arabia’s young people, while raising awareness about the competition.

In addition to King Abdulaziz University, planned destinations include shopping malls, local and international schools, and other public venues such as Jeddah Corniche.

A large number of male and female students had the opportunity to have their picture taken with the prestigious cup which first featured in the 2005 competition in Japan.

Mohannad Al-Najjar, a medical student at King Abdulaziz University, attended the roadshow and told Arab News he was excited to see the trophy, adding that he hoped his favorite club, Al-Ittihad, would go on to win it.

“It is a great opportunity for me and my friends to catch the trophy within the premises of our campus,” he said.

Marawan Al-Omari, another football fan, said: “We’re just here to see the trophy and get in the spirit of the FIFA Club World Cup 2023.

“I have already bought my tickets for the first two matches and hope I can see the rest of the games. I am really excited about this tournament.”

Teams to have already qualified are: Auckland City, New Zealand (Oceania champions); Al-Ittihad, Saudi Arabia (hosts); Urawa Red Diamonds, Japan (Asia champions); Club Leon, Mexico (North and Central America/Caribbean champions); Al-Ahly, Egypt (African champions); and Manchester City (European champions).

The seventh and last qualifier is decided on Nov. 4 when the final of the 2023 Copa Libertadores will determine which club represents South America.


NFL names Atlanta to host Super Bowl 62 in 2028

NFL names Atlanta to host Super Bowl 62 in 2028
Updated 7 sec ago
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NFL names Atlanta to host Super Bowl 62 in 2028

NFL names Atlanta to host Super Bowl 62 in 2028
  • Atlanta first hosted the Super Bowl in 1994, when Dallas beat Buffalo 30-13 at the Georgia Dome, which also hosted the then-St. Louis Rams beating Tennessee 23-16 in 2000
  • Arthur Blank: This is a tremendous honor for the city of Atlanta

NEW YORK: Atlanta has been named the host city for Super Bowl 62 in 2028, the NFL announced on Tuesday, marking the fourth time the 1996 Olympic host will stage the championship spectacle.

Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the 71,000-seat home of the NFL Atlanta Falcons which opened in 2017, will be the site of the contest, which has not had an exact date fixed.

“Renowned for its hospitality and rich sports and entertainment culture, Atlanta is a world-class event destination and a natural fit for Super Bowl 62,” NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement.

Atlanta first hosted the Super Bowl in 1994, when Dallas beat Buffalo 30-13 at the Georgia Dome, which also hosted the then-St. Louis Rams beating Tennessee 23-16 in 2000.

Mercedes-Benz Stadium first hosted the Super Bowl in 2019, when the New England Patriots beat the Los Angeles Rams 13-3.

“This is a tremendous honor for the city of Atlanta,” Falcons owner Arthur M. Blank said in a statement. “Thank you to my fellow owners for their trust in awarding Atlanta this opportunity.”

Next February’s Super Bowl will be played at the Superdome in New Orleans with California venues hosting in 2026 and 2027 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara and SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles respectively.


Lenovo will be FIFA’s technology partner for 2026 World Cup and 2027 Women’s World Cup

Lenovo will be FIFA’s technology partner for 2026 World Cup and 2027 Women’s World Cup
Updated 16 October 2024
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Lenovo will be FIFA’s technology partner for 2026 World Cup and 2027 Women’s World Cup

Lenovo will be FIFA’s technology partner for 2026 World Cup and 2027 Women’s World Cup
  • Infantino: At FIFA, we are committed to growing the game globally and making football accessible for all — and we are excited to welcome Lenovo to our journey
  • Lenovo will supply ThinkPad laptops and tablets as well as Motorola mobile phones for the tournaments to the competing teams, FIFA’s staff and the various host nation organizing committees

Lenovo has signed on to be the official technology partner for FIFA, which includes the 2026 World Cup in the US, Canada and Mexico as well as the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil.

The announcement was made during Lenovo’s Tech World innovation event in Seattle on Tuesday.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino said in a statement the deal will continue to upgrade fan experiences as well as continue to make data more accessible to fans and teams.

“At FIFA, we are committed to growing the game globally and making football accessible for all — and we are excited to welcome Lenovo to our journey, and to work with them to implement technologies, innovations and programs that spread our sport. Data and technology combined helps us to know fans better,” he said.

The 2026 World Cup will take place from June 11 through July 19 in 16 cities throughout North America. It will also see the tournament expand from 32 to 48 teams.

The 2027 Women’s World Cup will feature 32 teams, but the dates and host cities in Brazil have not been finalized.

Jeff Shafer, Lenovo’s head of corporate marketing, said there have been been multiple meetings with FIFA about the role of artificial intelligence in helping teams and fans better understand all the data produced during a match, but that any ideas or upgrades are still in the planning stages.

“Technology and football will absolutely enhance the experience for viewers at a specific level. That’s stuff that we’re working on right now. But we already, I think, have some really amazing and interesting ideas brewing,” Shafer said.

Lenovo will supply ThinkPad laptops and tablets as well as Motorola mobile phones for the tournaments to the competing teams, FIFA’s staff and the various host nation organizing committees.

FIFA had a significant amount of data during the recent World Cup tournaments, including detailed match reports breaking down all facets of play. Data used to be limited to possession percentages and shots, but with players wearing devices tracking movement as well as chips in soccer balls, data is available to analyze a team’s offensive formation shape or to help referee’s on offsides calls.

The available data can also be used during the game for graphics used on television or to relay statistics inside the stadium. FIFA has a six member technical study group which helps analyze data during tournaments as well as give insights and observations.

Shafer noted most of the upgrades to the fan experience will mostly begin with helping teams and players in analyzing data.

“Technology can level the playing field. The data is already there, but you’ve got some disparity between the haves and have nots within global football,” he said. “If we can provide technology that gives one or two people the ability to analyze date with some sort of competitive equality to those countries that have 10 or 15 people able to do that, it really brings a lot to the table.”

Lenovo’s addition as a FIFA partner also joins recent sponsorship announcements from Bank of America, Lays and Verizon.

“Lenovo is proud to support FIFA’s vision of leveraging technology to elevate the game, enhance the fan experience worldwide, and foster innovation that levels the playing field. We’re excited that our cutting-edge technology and AI innovation will take center stage in the upcoming tournaments, demonstrating to the world the transformative power of smarter technology,” Lenovo chairman and CEO Yuanqing Yang said in a statement.


Winners of women’s and men’s taekwondo events crowned at Saudi Games

Winners of women’s and men’s taekwondo events crowned at Saudi Games
Updated 16 October 2024
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Winners of women’s and men’s taekwondo events crowned at Saudi Games

Winners of women’s and men’s taekwondo events crowned at Saudi Games
  • Ethar Hayyan and Dunya Abu Talib took gold in the women’s 49 kg and 57 kg categories, respectively
  • In the men’s competitions, Riyadh Hamdi claimed gold in the 58 kg category and Mohammed Al-Suwaig in the 80 kg

RIYADH: The winners of the 57 kg and 49 kg categories of the women’s taekwondo competition at the 2024 Saudi Games, and the 80 kg and 58 kg categories of the men’s, were decided on Tuesday at Boulevard 2 in Riyadh.

Ethar Hayyan from AlUla won gold in the 49 kg women’s category, beating silver-medalist Rahma Al-Khawaher of Al-Qadisiyah in the final. Losing semi-finalists Sahaf Al-Shammari from AlUla and Fatima Awad from Al-Raed each received a bronze medal.

In the 57 kg women’s category, Dunya Abu Talib of Al-Qadisiyah took gold, Lujain Attiyah of Al-Shabab received silver, and Layan Al-Muhammadi of Herra and Wijdan Al-Atwi of Al-Ittihad claimed bronze.

In the men’s 58 kg category, Riyadh Hamdi of Al-Qadisiyah was the gold-medal winner, with Abdulilah Asiri of Abha taking silver, and Fahd Al-Sumaih of Al-Shabab and Muadh Mohammed of Al-Faisaly receiving bronze.

Mohammed Al-Suwaig from Al-Shabab triumphed in the 80 kg men’s category, ahead of Mohammed Othman, also of Al-Shabab, and Majed Mabrouk from Al-Hilal, who grabbed silver and bronze respectively.

The women’s prizes were presented by the CEO of the Saudi Games, Princess Dilayl Bint Nahar. The men received their medals from Ahmad Al-Muqayrin, a board member of the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee, and Brig. Gen. Shadad Al-Omari, president of the Saudi Taekwondo Federation.


Ronaldo frustrated as Scotland hold Portugal

Ronaldo frustrated as Scotland hold Portugal
Updated 16 October 2024
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Ronaldo frustrated as Scotland hold Portugal

Ronaldo frustrated as Scotland hold Portugal

GLASGOW: Scotland frustrated Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal in a 0-0 draw at Hampden on Tuesday to avoid losing five consecutive competitive games for the first time ever.
The home side needed a wonder save from Craig Gordon to deny Bruno Fernandes a winner in the closing stages, but held out to secure their first point in the top tier of the Nations League.
Portugal remain on top of Group A1 but were made to wait to book their place in March’s quarter-finals.
On his 216th international appearance, Ronaldo made his 200th start for his country, more than 21 years on from his first.
However, the 39-year-old failed to add to his 133 Portugal goals and stormed off the field at full-time ranting at the officials.
Scotland have won just one of their last 16 games — a 2-0 friendly victory over Gibraltar in June — and remain without a victory in a competitive match for over a year.
But Steve Clarke’s men battled hard to stop the rot in Glasgow.
Scotland even had the best chance of the first half inside the opening five minutes when Scott McTominay headed too close to Diogo Costa from point-blank range.
Portugal quickly took control of possession without creating clear-cut chances.
Francisco Conceicao spooned over early in the second period from Ronaldo’s lay-off.
Ronaldo then fired inches wide after making himself room for a shot amid a flurry of desperate challenges from Scottish defenders.
But it was Fernandes who had the best chance to claim all three points when the Manchester United captain’s powerful low strike was brilliantly parried by Gordon and collected at the second attempt by the 41-year-old goalkeeper.
Scotland are still on course for relegation from the top tier of the Nations League as they trail Poland, who drew 3-3 with Croatia, by three points with two games remaining.
Croatia sit second, three points behind the Portuguese, who they host next month.


More World Cup woe as Saudi Arabia draw a blank against Bahrain

More World Cup woe as Saudi Arabia draw a blank against Bahrain
Updated 15 October 2024
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More World Cup woe as Saudi Arabia draw a blank against Bahrain

More World Cup woe as Saudi Arabia draw a blank against Bahrain
  • Earlier, Australia had drawn 1-1 with leaders Japan in Saitama
  • Salem Al-Dawsari’s saved penalty proves costly

JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia were held to a 0-0 draw by Bahrain in Jeddah on Tuesday in another disappointing performance and result in the third round of qualification for the 2026 World Cup.

A first-half missed penalty from Salem Al-Dawsari — his second in four games in Group C — proved costly and meant that the Green Falcons failed to climb above Australia into second place.

The Socceroos had earlier drawn 1-1 with leaders Japan in Saitama, to move on to five points, one above Saudi Arabia and five behind the Samurai Blue.

The match had given Roberto Mancini’s men the chance to move two points above Australia into second ahead of their meeting in Melbourne next month, but after collecting only one point now from two home games in Jeddah in the space of five days, the heat is on the Italian head coach.

In reality this was another plodding performance, albeit against well-organized, hard-working and physically strong opponents. There were few moments of quality and few chances.

Saudi Arabia started brightly, however, with Firas Al-Buraikan forcing an early save from Ebrahim Lutfalla after some smart attacking interplay, but there was an even bigger chance before long.

There was a lengthy VAR delay in the 13th minute as Marwan Al-Sahafi went down in the area under a challenge from Abdulla Al-Khalasi. After almost three minutes the referee, who had not originally pointed to the spot, went to the pitchside monitor and, almost inevitably, changed his decision. It looked like the right one and it gave Al-Dawsari the opportunity to settle the nerves at the King Abdullah Sports City and banish memories of his miss against Indonesia in the opening game that ended in a 1-1 draw.

The 2022 Asian Player of the Year also had to take his time and it was almost six minutes after the initial foul when he took the kick. It was not the best of penalties and Lutfalla stood his ground and then made a diving save to his left. The feeling of energy leaving the stadium was palpable.

It took the hosts some time to get going again and they could even have been behind at the break.

Bahrain’s best chance in the first half came in the seventh minute of added time as Al-Khalasi almost redeemed himself for giving away the penalty but, from the left corner of the area, his low shot was well-blocked by Ahmed Al-Kassar. The goalkeeper was in action moments later too, flying through the air to push away a ball that had come off the head of Al-Buraikan.

The Green Falcons had some half-chances early in the second half and had a rare opportunity with 11 minutes remaining. Abdullah Radif ran into the area and made space for himself, only to shoot tamely into the arms of the grateful Lutfalla.

Bahrain had to work even harder after 87 minutes when they were reduced to 10 men, the visitors having used all their substitutes before Sayed Hashim Isa went off injured.

Given the 11 minutes of added time, there was still hope for Saudi Arabia, especially after Al-Dawsari went down in the area under a challenge from the goalkeeper. The referee was not interested in the penalty, however, and, this time, neither was VAR.

Musab Al-Juwayr sent an enticing low cross into the six-yard box in the 101st minute but there was no one able to connect to win the game.

That was that, and only one team were celebrating at the final whistle and it was not Saudi Arabia.

To compound his misery, Mancini appeared to exchange words with angry fans as he left the pitch following the end of the match. There is a lot of work to do.