Saudi Arabia Builds Youth Pipeline for 2034 World Cup

Saudi Arabia is building a wide-ranging youth football pipeline aimed at preparing homegrown talent for the 2034 World Cup, drawing on national scouting, school leagues, regional training centers, and youth competitions across the Kingdom.

the plan involves more than 100 schools in a national scouting scheme and over 170 coaches, while the Schools League already counts more than 200,000 players. More than 25 regional training centers are planned to widen access to structured development.

The federation says it is currently running Under-17 and Under-11 competitions, with events for under-6 players planned by 2027. A youth-competition development project approved for the 2024-2025 period includes expanding the U17 and U18 First Division Leagues to 18 teams each, alongside updated age categories running through 2033-2034.

A pathway from age six

The Future Falcons program, launched in 2019 and later expanded under the Saudi Football Federation, forms part of the talent pathway for elite young players. The broader strategy aims to develop footballers from as young as age six all the way to professional level, by strengthening regional centers, youth structures, and competition routes.

For families across the Kingdom, the expanding school and youth competitions mean more organized opportunities for children to play the game close to home. As the 2034 tournament approaches, the focus on nurturing local talent signals a long-term commitment to building a national squad rooted in Saudi communities.

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