Saudi Football Federation forms election committee and launches new youth competitions

The Saudi Football Federation announced the creation of a new election committee following its extraordinary General Assembly held on 8 July 2026. The committee, chaired by Ahmed bin Abdullah Al‑Qani’an, includes members Bandar bin Abdulhadi Al‑Humaidani, Dr. Ahmed bin Muhammad Banama, Dr. Abdulaziz bin Muhammad Al‑Fadli, with Isa bin Rabie Al‑Rais serving as secretary on behalf of the legal department. The body will soon release a detailed timetable for the upcoming election phases and has cited former Qadsia club president Badr bin Suleiman Al‑Ruzay as a potential candidate for federation president.

In parallel, the federation introduced new competitions for under‑5, under‑7 and under‑9 age groups, the first such categories in Saudi football. Aimed at broadening the talent pool, the initiative targets participation from more than 1,300 clubs across about 50 cities, with over 13 000 matches and more than 24 000 young players expected. Registrations close on 13 August, and the competitions will use a festival‑style format to reduce travel distances and increase playing minutes, complementing existing youth leagues for older age brackets.