Saudi Pro League partners with Footballco to launch Yalla SPL Show for Gen Zs
Footballco has partnered with the Saudi Pro League to launch Yalla SPL Show, a new English language show for Gen Z audiences. The new show will highlight the best goals, moments and stories from Saudi Arabia's premier football league and will be published on Goal's global YouTube channel, which has a combined following of more than 40 million fans.
Yalla SPL Show will be a monthly show published on Goal's global YouTube channel with show highlights shared across the brand's global English language social accounts on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and YouTube Shorts, which in December 2024 generated 335 million video views.
The show has the same high energy and entertainment-first approach as Goal's popular Front Three show and is presented by the Barra Bruvvas – a pair of young football content creators from London of Middle Eastern heritage.
Commenting on the launch, Andy Jackson, Footballco's SVP of the Middle East, said, 'The Saudi Pro League is the fastest growing league globally on GOAL with over 44 million people reading content on the league on Goal's website in the last 12 months. We can't wait to use our experience and insights to create a show that young fans in English-speaking markets will love. They'll get to see and hear about some of the world's best players and homegrown stars lighting up the Saudi Pro League.'
Jackson added, 'While we've seen great success from our entertainment-first shows like GOAL's Front Three, which don't carry match footage, we're looking forward to using our partnership with the SPL to bring the best on-pitch content to fans as well.'
Mohammed Basrawi, General Manager MARCOM, SPL, said, 'The Saudi Pro League continues to grow globally, attracting some of the world's top football talent and a rapidly expanding international fanbase. Through our partnership with Footballco, Yalla SPL Show will provide an engaging new way for fans to connect with the league, its players, and its biggest moments.'
Basrawi added, 'This show aligns with our commitment to making the SPL more accessible than ever to audiences worldwide, and we look forward to seeing it bring the excitement of Saudi football to new and existing fans across the globe.'
As well as on-pitch clips, the show includes captivating stories of SPL players past and present, fun game segments and features where the hosts help fans pick an SPL team to support. The show will also feature pre-recorded segments from some of the biggest players in the league.
The first season of the Yalla SPL Show will reach its crescendo ahead of Al Hilal representing the SPL in the FIFA Club World Cup in June.
As well as Arabic editions of Goal and women's football brand Indivisa, Footballco's Middle East portfolio includes the largest digital sports publisher in the Middle East, Kooora, and youth-focused shows Yalla Goal and Yalla Girl.
Footballco increased its presence in the Middle East at the end of 2024 by opening its Middle East HQ in Riyadh to complement its existing office in Dubai.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Int'l Cricket Council
2 days ago
- Int'l Cricket Council
Australia buoyed by late wickets as Smith reveals Day 2 plan for Lord's
By Jonathan Healy, at Lord's Australia batter Steve Smith believes his team is in a strong position after the opening day of the ICC World Test Championship Final against South Africa in London . The Aussies managed to muster just enough after being sent in to bat first by Proteas captain Temba Bavuma, with Smith arguably the pick of the batters as he compiled a gritty half-century before nicking part-time spinner Aiden Markram to Marco Jansen at first slip. Aussie pacers hit back after Rabada shines with the ball | Day 1 Highlights | WTC25 Final After Kagiso Rabada nabbed his 17th five-wicket haul to bundle out Australia, Pat Cummins and Co respond to set up an exciting Day 2. A fired-up Mitchell Starc helped Australia fight back late as South Africa reached 43/4 at stumps after an action-packed opening day's play and Smith feels his side have the ascendancy due to the late wickets. "I think we're in a good spot, we've probably had a few missed opportunities with the bat to try and get a bigger total, but I think the wickets offered something all day as we've seen, and we're in a pretty good position," Smith said after play on Wednesday. "We're in a decent spot, hopefully it does a little bit in the morning like it did today. It could have been a better day, but we're still in a nice position." Smith and Webster help Australia fight back | Day 1, Session 2 Highlights | WTC25 Final After South Africa snapped four wickets in the first session, Steve Smith and Beau Webster notch half-centuries to help rebuild the Aussie innings. Smith looked the best of the Australian players on the opening day at Lord's, with the former No.1 ranked Test batter safely negotiating the likes of Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen until he was undone by Markram. "I'm still trying to fathom how I've done that," a frustrated Smith said when asked if he had any learnings from his innings of 66. During the course of his half-century at Lord's, Smith also managed to break the record for the most 50-plus scores on English soil by a visiting batter, going past fellow Aussie legend, Alan Border's long-standing record with 18 scores to his name now. Marco Jansen completes a brilliant juggling catch | Sobha POTD, Day 1 | WTC25 Final Marco Jansen juggled thrice but held on in the end to get rid of the dangerous Steve Smith on Day 1 of the World Test Championship 2023-25 Final. The Aussies will be hoping for some quick wickets when play resumes in North London on Thursday and Smith has his fingers crossed for his side to receive the same type of conditions that South Africa received on the opening day when overcast skies greeted players at Lord's. Rabada and Jansen took full advantage of the cloudy skies as Ausstralia lost four wickets during the opening session and Australia's pace trio will be licking their lips in anticipation of similar conditions in the opening session on Thursday. "When you know you've only got a couple of hours to bowl in the night, you can probably give a little bit more knowing you're going to have a break afterwards," Smith said of Australia's efforts to pick up four wickets prior to stumps. "The three (Australian quicks) have been great and hopefully they can come again in the morning and make a few early inroads." While Starc grabbed two scalps, skipper Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood joined the act as well, grabbing a wicket apiece to halt South Africa's charge with the bat.
Zawya
2 days ago
- Zawya
Gen Z's favorite games used as bait in over 19 million attempted cyberattacks
From April 1, 2024 to March 31, 2025, Kaspersky detected over 19 million attempts to download malicious or unwanted files disguised as popular Gen Z games. Over 47,800 such attempts were registered in Turkiye, making it one of the countries most affected by such incidents. With GTA, Minecraft and Call of Duty among the most exploited, it's clear that cybercriminals are actively following gaming trends to reach their targets. To help players stay safe, Kaspersky is launching 'Case 404' — an interactive cybersecurity game that teaches Gen Z how to recognize threats and protect their digital worlds while doing what they love: playing. Gen Z plays more than any other generation — and not just more, but differently. They outpace Millennials and Gen X in gaming-related spending, and, instead of sticking to a few favorites, Gen Z jumps between numerous titles, chasing viral trends and new experiences. Yet this same spontaneity and openness also make them vulnerable, with cybercriminals exploiting the habits and trust of these players across the platforms. For instance, throughout the reported period, more than 400,000 users worldwide were affected. Attempts to attack users through malicious or unwanted files disguised as Gen Z's favorite games throughout the reported period As part of the new report, Kaspersky experts conducted an in-depth analysis using 20 of the most popular game titles among Gen Z — from GTA, NBA and FIFA to The Sims and Genshin Impact — as search keywords. The study covered the period from Q2 2024 to Q1 2025, with March 2025 standing out as the peak month, recording 1,842,370 attempted attacks. Despite GTA V being released over a decade ago, the Grand Theft Auto franchise remains one of the most exploited, due to its open-world modding capabilities and thriving online community. In total, Kaspersky detected 4,456,499 attack attempts involving files disguised as GTA franchise-related content. With the highly anticipated release of GTA VI expected in 2026, experts predict a potential spike in such attacks, as cybercriminals may exploit the hype by distributing fake installers, early access offers or beta invites. Minecraft ranked second, with 4,112,493 attack attempts, driven by its vast modding ecosystem and enduring popularity among Gen Z players. Call of Duty and The Sims followed with 2,635,330 and 2,416,443 attack attempts respectively. The demand for cheats and cracked versions around competitive CoD releases such as Modern Warfare III fuels malicious activity, while The Sims fans searching for custom content or unreleased expansion packs may inadvertently download harmful files presented as mods or early access. As a result of such attacks, users' devices can be infected with various types of unwanted or malicious software — from downloaders that can install additional harmful programs, to trojans that steal passwords, monitor activity, grant remote access to attackers or deploy ransomware. The goals of these attacks vary, and one common motive is stealing gaming accounts, which are later sold on the dark web or closed forums. Kaspersky Global Research & Analysis Team experts also analyzed darknet marketplaces and closed platforms for advertisements selling compromised gaming accounts and skins. The research indicates a growing number of such offers showing up not just on the darknet, but also on regular closed forums and Telegram channels — making these illicit assets more visible and accessible than ever. A post from a closed forum advertising a digital store, which sells access to Minecraft and streaming service accounts, boasting over 500 sales This shows that the theft of gaming accounts and digital items is no longer limited to niche cybercrime circles — it's starting to spread into more open online spaces. The barrier to entry for selling or buying stolen accounts has significantly lowered. What was once a technical, underground practice has become a marketplace — fast, accessible and global. It now takes just a few clicks to join a private Telegram channel and access hundreds of listings offering rare skins, high-rank accounts, and access to premium in-game items. And for gamers, this means that the risk of losing an account or having it resold is no longer a rare incident — it's a mainstream threat. To address this, Kaspersky has launched an interactive online game, 'Case 404', created especially for Gen Z gamers. In this cyber-detective adventure, players dive into fictional cases inspired by real digital threats, learning how to spot scams, phishing attempts and account takeover tactics common in gaming. With 'Case 404', Kaspersky isn't just raising awareness — it's equipping players with the mindset and skills to stay secure while doing what they love. Those who complete the game also receive a discount on Kaspersky Premium, giving them reliable tools to protect their gaming and digital lives. 'From open-world blockbusters like GTA to cozy simulators like The Sims, cybercriminals target games across every genre. What unites them is the audience: Gen Z is the most digitally active generation, leaving behind a rich trail of data, clicks and curiosity. This makes them a prime target - because they're constantly online, exploring, downloading and sharing. That's why digital self-defense is essential. Learning how to recognize threats should be as natural as leveling up in a game. Through 'Case 404', we want to equip young players with tools and instincts to protect what their digital identity, their accounts and their freedom to play safely,' comments Fatih Sensoy, senior security researcher at Kaspersky. To play games safely, Kaspersky recommends the following: Check out the interactive online game, 'Case 404' by Kaspersky, explicitly designed for Gen Z. Download games, mods and tools only from official sources. Avoid torrents, third-party websites or links shared in forums and chats — even if they promise rare skins or free bonuses. Be skeptical of giveaways. If a website or message offers something too good to be true (like free currency or legendary gear), it probably is — especially if it asks for your login credentials. Use strong, unique passwords for every gaming and email account. A password manager, such as one from Kaspersky, can help generate and store them securely. Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) wherever possible — especially on platforms like Steam, Epic Games and Discord. Check URLs carefully. Phishing sites often look almost identical to the real ones but use slight misspellings or fake subdomains. Don't share accounts or login details, even with friends. Shared access often leads to unintentional exposure or theft. Use a reliable security solution, like Kaspersky Premium, to detect malicious attachments that could compromise your data. About Kaspersky Kaspersky is a global cybersecurity and digital privacy company founded in 1997. With over a billion devices protected to date from emerging cyberthreats and targeted attacks, Kaspersky's deep threat intelligence and security expertise is constantly transforming into innovative solutions and services to protect individuals, businesses, critical infrastructure, and governments around the globe. The company's comprehensive security portfolio includes leading digital life protection for personal devices, specialized security products and services for companies, as well as Cyber Immune solutions to fight sophisticated and evolving digital threats. We help millions of individuals and over 200,000 corporate clients protect what matters most to them. Learn more at
Web Release
2 days ago
- Web Release
Emirati Artists Take the Stage at London's Kensington Palace
Emirati performers captivated audiences at Kensington Palace with a night of operatic music, presenting a vibrant showcase of UAE culture on a prestigious international stage. The event featured talented artists Fatima Al-Hashimi, Ahmed Al-Housani, and Ihab Darwish, who performed pieces in Arabic, Italian, and English. This concert was part of the Abu Dhabi Festival's Abroad program, held in partnership with the Peace and Prosperity Trust. The initiative aims to highlight Emirati cultural heritage through classical music while encouraging cross-cultural exchange. A Platform for Cultural Diplomacy Huda Alkhamis-Kanoo, founder of the Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation, stressed the significance of such events in promoting cultural understanding. 'If we do not tell our story, someone else will. And they will get it wrong,' she said. Alkhamis-Kanoo described the showcase as more than a one-time event, but as an ongoing commitment to bringing Emirati talent to the world stage. She added, 'It's about creating understanding, building dialogue, and showing the world the strength of our cultural identity through music. We invest in the young, we partner with the world, and we build cultural legacies that last.' Blending Tradition with Innovation The evening featured the debut of Ihab Darwish's new composition, Ruins of Time, which fused orchestral sounds with traditional Arabic influences. Darwish remarked, 'Music is the fastest way to reach people. It creates peace, it creates understanding. Music removes boundaries. It creates a shared language, a dialogue of coexistence, peace, and tolerance.' Meanwhile, Fatima Al-Hashimi explained her approach to preserving Arab identity within classical music: 'Even while singing in Italian, I included Arabic lyrics to keep our signature present.' Ahmed Al-Housani reflected on the significance of the event, calling it a 'professional milestone' and emphasising, 'Performing here is more than a concert, it's a message. We're here to show the world the strength and beauty of our culture.'
