Saudi Vision 2034: Football, Investment, and Growth in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) convened with the Spanish media ahead of the Super Cup final. A federation representative described the media engagement as a direct effort to speak with another country’s press and to soften the Western narrative that sometimes accompanies discussions of sports diplomacy, as he explained after a question from this newspaper. The aim, he noted, is to show how football serves as a catalyst for economic and social development in Saudi Arabia, highlighting ongoing reforms and investment under the Saudi Vision 2030 framework. El Periódico de España, part of the Prensa Ibérica group, reported on these remarks.

The plan to culminate in the 2034 World Cup is depicted as a multi-faceted opportunity. It involves not just high-profile signings but also capacity building in grassroots football and the advancement of women’s football. The SAFF presentation emphasizes both commercial growth and developmental programs. David Cabildo, a member of the technical team, cited Ana Junyent, noting the organization’s access to skilled Spanish and Portuguese coaches. One of these coaches is currently guiding a team in the Saudi Women’s Premier League, illustrating the federation’s commitment to elevating women’s football to the forefront.

FC Barcelona and Spanish national team player Alexia Putellas on a campus in Saudi Arabia. SAUDI ARABIA FOOTBALL FEDERATION

Up to 3,700 euros to play in the Saudi third

Former Barça coach and ex-Ukraine manager Lluis Cortés has been named head of the Saudi women’s team. David Pascual, a physical coach at Mahd Academy, one of 18 high-performance centers in the country, shares the Cabildo perspective. The nation aims to move from present-day connectivity to a robust future in football, with a clear focus on sustained development and competitive excellence.

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Denis Iglesias

This shift is also reflected in Saudi Vision 2030, where the kingdom seeks to diversify away from oil dependence. Talent is being sought across sectors, and football opportunities have surged. In June of last year, FutbolJobs posted an offer viral in the press, inviting players to fill spots in the third team of Saudi Arabia with a monthly salary of 3,700 euros plus housing. The proposal highlighted a bold step toward attracting international players and expanding the domestic talent pool.

“The widespread spread of the Saudi third-division offer prompted a flood of applicants,” explains Álvaro García Martínez, chief marketing officer of FutbolJobs. “We also expanded our player database to include more than 70 countries and tripled paid subscriptions on our platform. On average, around 250 people apply for each position, with peaks tied to the attractiveness of particular opportunities.”

Training of the Saudi Arabian under-15 team. Denis Iglesias

More than 70,000 girls play football

The SAFF acknowledges that investing in football is a strategic lever for economic diversification. Reflecting on historical momentum, a federation member noted that a strong start in the 1980s helped build a foundation, but subsequent investments did not meet ambitions until more recent reforms. The federation intends to raise the level of hosting and performance as it prepares for the 2034 World Cup, with a clear focus on elevating football infrastructure and participation.

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The federation’s goals are ambitious. They aim to climb from position 56 to reach the top 20 in the FIFA rankings by 2034, and to push women’s football from 175th to 65th. Achieving this requires massive infrastructure expansion—from 2,300 sites today to an eventual 17,000 venues. The number 17,000 is deliberate and precise, confirming the scale of intended growth. Foreign talent will be part of this evolution, aided by increased licensing and development of training pathways.

Officials emphasized that girls’ participation in school football has grown dramatically, with more than 70,000 now taking part in organized competitions. In women’s football, the number of teams has risen from 16 to 34, and reforms over the past eight years are seen as surpassing changes from earlier decades.

Michel Salgado at a campus held in Jeddah (Saudi Arabia). SAUDI ARABIA FOOTBALL FEDERATION

Cooperation with Spain to train players

FutbolJobs’ CMO notes that clubs and agencies most frequently request forwards and center-backs, preferably left-handed players. In line with federation targets, there has been a renewed search for European grassroots coaching as the primary objective remains training young players for the 2034 World Cup through elevated coaching standards and international collaboration.

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Spain and Saudi Arabia collaborate through the Falcons of the Future program, launched in 2019. The initiative has seen 205 participants train under its banner, with 38 signing contracts with European clubs and many more called up to national duty. Women’s football coaching has also expanded, with Madrid, Barcelona, and Malaga hosting programs since 2021. Seminars are planned in Jeddah and Riyadh in collaboration with the Royal Spanish Football Federation. The organizers emphasize a long-term strategy that aligns with the Saudi Vision 2030 plan, which seeks to create a vibrant society and a thriving sports ecosystem as momentum builds toward the 2034 World Cup with a shared bid scheduled for next year.

Saudi Arabia’s women’s coach, Spaniard Lluís Cortés, during training. SAUDI ARABIA FOOTBALL FEDERATION

A summer market that will be “huge” in the future

The plan is for Arabia to invest yearly in top-tier players across leagues, aiming to place itself prominently on the global football map. The 2034 World Cup serves as a powerful incentive to keep expanding tournaments and strengthening the league system, with the expectation that a robust market will accompany continued growth.

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Analysts caution that this could affect other competitions by driving up salaries and transfers. Yet industry leaders disagree with doom-laden narratives; they predict a busy summer market ahead. As stated by the SAFF, the 2034 World Cup is a natural progression of the country’s sports journey, a dream made possible by a young, energetic population and a deep passion for the game.

In sum, the kingdom’s approach blends strategic investment, international partnerships, and grassroots empowerment to sculpt a football future that is both competitive and transformative for Saudi society. The journey toward 2034 continues to unfold with a clear blueprint for growth, inclusion, and global competitiveness.