Sport in Saudi Arabia
Encyclopedia
Football
Football is the main sport in Saudi Arabia. In recent years, the sport has grown in popularity, and some Saudi players get to play in Europe. The national teamSaudi Arabia national football team
Saudi Arabia national football team is the national team of Saudi Arabia and is controlled by the Saudi Arabia Football Federation...
is governed by the Saudi Football Federation
Saudi Arabia Football Federation
The Saudi Arabia Football Federation is the football governing body of Saudi Arabia. Founded in 1956, its responsibilities include administration of club competitions and national teams....
(SFF). The SFF organises the Saudi Leagues, and the Saudi Arabian Cup. The Saudi national team has competed in 4 FIFA World Cups, in 1994
1994 FIFA World Cup
The 1994 FIFA World Cup, the 15th staging of the FIFA World Cup, was held in nine cities across the United States from June 17 to July 17, 1994. The United States was chosen as the host by FIFA on July 4, 1988...
, 1998
1998 FIFA World Cup
The 1998 FIFA World Cup, the 16th FIFA World Cup, was held in France from 10 June to 12 July 1998. France was chosen as host nation by FIFA on 2 July 1992. The tournament was won by France, who beat Brazil 3-0 in the final...
, 2002
2002 FIFA World Cup
The 2002 FIFA World Cup was the 17th staging of the FIFA World Cup, held in South Korea and Japan from 31 May to 30 June. It was also the first World Cup held in Asia, and the last in which the golden goal rule was implemented. Brazil won the tournament for a record fifth time, beating Germany 2–0...
, and most recently, in 2006
2006 FIFA World Cup
The 2006 FIFA World Cup was the 18th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 9 June to 9 July 2006 in Germany, which won the right to host the event in July 2000. Teams representing 198 national football associations from all six...
. The Saudi team has also competed in 7 AFC Asian Cup
AFC Asian Cup
The AFC Asian Cup is an international association football tournament run by the Asian Football Confederation . It is the second oldest continental football championship in the world after Copa América. The winning team becomes the champion of Asia and automatically qualifies for the FIFA...
's, first in 1984. Achievements from the AFC Cup include: being the Champions in 1984
1984 AFC Asian Cup
The 1984 AFC Asian Cup was the eighth edition of the Asian Nations Cup, the football championship of Asia . It was hosted by Singapore between December 1 and December 16. The field of ten teams was split into two groups of five...
, 1988
1988 AFC Asian Cup
The Asian Football Confederation's 1988 AFC Asian Cup finals were held in Qatar between December 2 and December 18. Saudi Arabia defeated Republic of Korea in the final match in Doha.-Qualification:...
, and recently, in 1996
1996 AFC Asian Cup
The Asian Football Confederation's 1996 AFC Asian Cup finals were held in the United Arab Emirates between December 4 and December 21. Saudi Arabia defeated host nation U.A.E. in the final match in Abu Dhabi.-Qualification:...
. The current player of the year is Hussein Sulaimani
Hussein Sulaimani
Hussein Abdulghani Sulaimani is a Saudi Arabian football player who currently plays as a defender for Al-Nassr.He is a regular member of the Saudi Arabian national team...
, who is the captain of Saudi Football Team. Saudi Arabia also regularly participate in the Gulf Cup of Nations
Gulf Cup of Nations
The Gulf Cup of Nations , also known as Khaleeji followed by the edition of the games , is a football tournament currently held every two years rotating the host city every edition...
, AFC Champions League
AFC Champions League
The AFC Champions League is the premier Asian club football competition hosted annually by Asian Football Confederation . The tournament is contested among the top thirty-two clubs from the top 10 Asian leagues, two of which must qualify through the playoffs...
, and Arab Nations Cup
Arab Nations Cup
The Arab Cup of Nations , is a football competition held between Arab countries, the first edition where held in 1963 in Lebanon.-Winners:...
.
Rugby union
Rugby unionRugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
is a minor but growing sport, which has been played for several decades in the Kingdom. Many of the local rugby clubs date back to the late 1970s.
National teams
- Saudi Arabia national football teamSaudi Arabia national football teamSaudi Arabia national football team is the national team of Saudi Arabia and is controlled by the Saudi Arabia Football Federation...
- Saudi Arabia national cricket team
- Saudi Arabia national handball teamSaudi Arabia national handball teamThe Saudi Arabia national handball team is the national handball team of Saudi Arabia and is controlled by the Saudi Arabia Handball Association. The team has participated in the 2009 World Men's Handball Championship.Participation in Asian tournments=...
- Saudi Arabia national ice hockey team
See also
- Saudi Arabia at the OlympicsSaudi Arabia at the OlympicsSaudi Arabia has competed in eight Summer Olympic Games. They first appeared in the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, West Germany. They have never competed in the Winter Games. By Saudi Arabian law, women are not permitted to compete in the Olympic Games...
- Saudi Arabia Football FederationSaudi Arabia Football FederationThe Saudi Arabia Football Federation is the football governing body of Saudi Arabia. Founded in 1956, its responsibilities include administration of club competitions and national teams....
- Saudi Arabia at the World Cup