Saudi Youth Scouting Expands for 2034 World Cup

Saudi Arabia is broadening a nationwide talent-discovery effort to identify young footballers and prepare a new generation of national-team players ahead of the 2034 World Cup on home soil. Run by the Saudi Arabian Football Federation, the expanded program aims to spot school-age talent and channel players into clubs, regional training centers, and national youth pathways.

At the heart of the push is the Future Falcons program, which began in 2019 and grew from 2020. It has already developed or awarded scholarships to about 230 promising teenagers. The scheme has now expanded to include under-16 players, with the under-16 national team set for two consecutive seasons of professional training in Salou, Spain.

The wider scouting network tied to the 2034 legacy plan is significant in scale. It involves more than 100 schools, over 170 coaches, and more than 200,000 players competing in the Schools League, with over 25 regional training centers planned for development. The roadmap also features four regional grassroots leagues for ages 11 to 14, alongside school competitions and teacher-training initiatives.

The federation has also organized talent-discovery festivals in multiple cities, with one published phase covering boys aged 6 to 9 and girls aged 9 to 12. A reported youth-support budget of SAR 75 million was approved in one recent season to back youth categories, clubs, and accredited academies.

For families across the Kingdom, the initiative widens the path for young players to be noticed and supported, from local schools to national programs. As the country prepares to host the 2034 World Cup, the long-term investment aims to ensure homegrown talent is ready to compete at the sport's highest level.

---

Stay updated with the latest news, events, sports updates, business insights, real estate and lifestyle stories on Saudi Living — the leading online platform for residents, expats, and visitors in Saudi Arabia.

Follow Saudi Living for daily updates:

• Instagram - @saudiliving
• X - @saudiliving
• Facebook - @saudiliving
• YouTube - @saudiliving