Saudi Arabia Builds Youth Talent for 2034 World Cup

Following the official confirmation on 11 December 2024 that Saudi Arabia will host the FIFA World Cup 2034, the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) is accelerating a long-term youth strategy designed to supply talent for the national squad that will represent the Kingdom on home soil.

Under the banner "Our Tactics for Tomorrow," SAFF is building structured pathways for players from age six through the professional level. More than 200,000 players are currently taking part in the national Schools League, while talent-discovery programs run across more than 100 schools with over 170 coaches involved. The federation also plans to establish at least 25 regional training centers nationwide, with 17 already operating by early 2025, alongside a national scouting scheme focused on schools and regional hubs.

At the center of the plan is the Future Falcons program, launched in 2019 as a scholarship initiative for young talent. Originally focused on ages 18 to 20, it later expanded to include under-16 players. Around 230 teenagers have received individual scholarships, spending nine-month seasons in Europe with professional coaching, support staff, and formal schooling. For the under-16 team, the program provides two consecutive seasons of professional training in Salou, Spain, and 27 under-16 players have already been sent for two-season residency stints that include training, friendly international tournaments, and pathways to external professional contracts.

Why it matters

To reinforce club and academy work, SAFF has approved a youth-category support initiative for the third consecutive season, with a budget of about 75 million SAR covering public clubs, private clubs, and licensed academies. The youth-competition system is also being expanded to guarantee continuous match exposure. For families across the Kingdom, the effort signals a clear pathway for young players to develop locally and internationally, with the World Cup on home ground as the ultimate goal.

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