Saudi Arabia Grows Youth Football Centers for 2034

Oct 22, 2026•2 min read

Saudi Arabia is widening its grassroots football pipeline ahead of hosting the 2034 FIFA World Cup, with the Saudi Arabian Football Federation now operating 17 regional training centers for boys during the 2026 season. The centers serve players in the under-11, under-12, under-13, and under-14 age groups across the Kingdom.

Four centers have been added for the current season in the Northern Borders, Al-Jouf, Hafar Al-Batin, and Abha. They join existing sites in Riyadh (two centers), Makkah, Madinah, Jeddah, Taif, Najran, Jazan, Al-Ahsa, Dammam, Hail, Qassim, and Tabuk, giving most regions a local development hub.

Each center is staffed by national coaches alongside specialist administrative and medical teams, part of the Talent Development Track within the Saudi Football Strategy launched in 2021. The expansion aims to identify promising young players earlier and nurture them within a structured national system.

Scouting at scale

The national scouting scheme reaches more than 100 schools, with over 170 coaches and around 200,000 players taking part in the Schools League. The official 2034 World Cup legacy plan also identifies 134 training sites for players, teams, and referees, underlining how youth development ties into long-term preparations.

For families across Riyadh, Jeddah, and other cities, the wider network means more opportunities for children to train close to home under qualified supervision. Available official information does not specify fees, eligibility documents, enrollment steps, or a single nationwide application channel for the regional centers, so parents should confirm details locally before signing up.

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