Saudi Arabia Builds Youth Talent for 2034 World Cup

Saudi Arabia is putting youth development at the heart of its plan to build the strongest possible national team for the FIFA World Cup 2034™, with expanded competitions, new training centers, and nationwide talent scouting already under way.

The Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) has set an ambitious goal of placing the national team among the world's top 20 by 2034, with youth development as a core pillar. The strategy aims to support every Saudi footballer from age six through the professional level, by optimizing existing regional centers and opening new "Grade A" centers across different regions of the Kingdom.

By 2025, SAFF plans to run more than 50 youth competitions across all regions, bringing together clubs, MAHD Academy, and private academies to create continuous competitive pathways feeding future senior squads. Youth leagues are also being restructured, with fixed age brackets and adjusted promotion and relegation rules for each season from 2024–2025 through 2033–2034 — the exact cohorts likely to form the 2034 squad.

A newly launched Talent Discovery Program targets schoolchildren, with boys aged 6–9 and girls aged 9–12 taking part in performance tests that channel them into clubs and regional training centers. The program is scheduled in at least 16 cities, including Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Medina, Abha, Tabuk, Al-Baha, Hail, Najran, Jazan, Al-Ahsa, Hafar Al-Batin, Arar, Taif, Al-Jawf, and Unaizah.

At the grassroots level, a national schools league involves more than 200,000 players across over 100 schools, supported by more than 170 dedicated scouting coaches who identify promising young players and guide them toward regional centers and clubs. There are currently at least 17 Regional Training Centers for boys, with plans to expand to more than 25.

For families across the Kingdom, the effort means clearer pathways for young players to develop, compete, and potentially represent Saudi Arabia on home soil in 2034.

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