Saudi football federation reaches Asia’s top tier for talent development

The Saudi Football Federation has secured the highest level in Asia’s classification for talent development, moving up from the second tier. The step follows a comprehensive assessment by the Asian Football Confederation of the Federation’s work in developing age groups. The classification recognises activity across several parts of youth development, rather than a single programme in isolation.

The review included age-group competitions and programmes to develop coaches. It also covered private academies, regional training centres, and initiatives to identify and develop talent. The Confederation also praised the Federation’s youth-development programmes and its strategy in this area at an Asian level.

The assessment examined the Federation’s work through its technical directorate. It was preceded by a visit in June last year by a Confederation delegation. During that visit, representatives reviewed the Federation’s projects and programmes, as well as the documents supporting them. The visit formed part of the assessment of the youth-development pathway, giving the evaluation a look at the structures presented alongside the classification announcement.

The range of areas assessed helps explain the breadth of the recognition: it spans competitions, coaching, development structures and the identification of talent. The move from the second tier to the highest level therefore recognises, through the assessment, a group of activities connected to the development pathway for young players. It is not limited to an appraisal of academies or training centres, but takes in several components of the wider system.

Federation secretary general Majed bin Ali Al-Sahib said the recognition «reflects the continuous work carried out by the Federation in recent years in the age-group development system, as well as the development of competitions and coaches and the expansion of talent identification programmes and academies it has involved». His comments emphasised the sustained nature of the work and the links between competitions, coach development, talent identification and academies — areas also considered in the assessment.