KSAsportz report
RIYADH — In a transformative development for Saudi sports, the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) has announced the successful completion of a national project chronicling the Kingdom’s football history over the last 123 years, from its inception in 1902 to its current position on the world stage.
This announcement was made during a press conference on Sunday, signifying the culmination of an extensive initiative hailed as the most thorough in terms of depth, accuracy, and scope.
The project serves as a national and official reference for the history of Saudi football, meticulously cataloging players, clubs, competitions, and governing bodies.
According to the federation, the project took place over 13 months, from March 2024 to April 2025, and involved eight stages of collection, review, and validation processes.
It meticulously covers every era, from the reign of King Abdulaziz to the current leadership of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, documenting tournaments, regulations, milestones, and achievements that have shaped the sport.
The comprehensive research compiled over 3,400 domestic club competitions, 1,141 national team matches, and 251 international tournaments. Additionally, it recorded over 3,300 international refereeing participations, 300 official regulations and statutes, 160 honor rolls, and 155 champions.
Each competition was evaluated through a tri-stage process: verifying the organizing authority, reviewing regulations, and classifying its competitive nature.
Special emphasis was placed on recognizing the official bodies that have overseen football through various periods, ranging from the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Education to the Saudi Football Association and the present-day federation.
Competitions were categorized based on their management by official, local, external, or non-specialized organizers, ensuring comprehensive and consistent documentation.
This ambitious initiative has garnered robust support from key partners, including the Ministry of Sport, Saudi Broadcasting Authority, King Abdulaziz Foundation for Research and Archives, the Saudi Pro League, the federation’s General Assembly, and FIFA.
Significantly, the project transcended mere record-keeping; it evaluated football’s impact on Saudi society and the economy, documented the development of women’s football as an integral aspect, and highlighted the evolution of clubs and national teams in the international arena.
With the completion of this landmark project, Saudi football now possesses a definitive record that not only enshrines its rich legacy but also lays the groundwork for future generations.