logo
Saudi Arabia U23 Team to Compete in Toulon Football Tournament

Saudi Arabia U23 Team to Compete in Toulon Football Tournament

Asharq Al-Awsat25-05-2025

The Saudi Arabia U23 national football team is gearing up for the Maurice Revello Tournament (Toulon) in France, taking place from June 1 to 15.
During the event, the 27-player squad will compete in Group A alongside France, Mali, and Panama.
According to SPA, prior to the tournament, the team will hold a training camp in Riyadh on May 27 before traveling to France on May 30 for the competition.
Saudi Arabia's first match in Toulon will be against France on June 3. Subsequently, they will face Panama on June 6, followed by their final group stage fixture against Mali on June 9.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Princess Rajwa shows support in sporty style at World Cup qualifier
Princess Rajwa shows support in sporty style at World Cup qualifier

Arab News

time6 hours ago

  • Arab News

Princess Rajwa shows support in sporty style at World Cup qualifier

DUBAI: Princess Rajwa Al-Hussein of Jordan attended the AFC World Cup qualifier match between Jordan and Oman on Thursday, opting for a look that blended national pride with contemporary style. The princess, who is of Saudi origin, wore the official home shirt of the Jordan national football team, featuring a white base with red collar and sleeve accents. She paired the jersey with Victoria Beckham's structured pocket trousers in the 'Sandstorm' shade, featuring a high-waisted silhouette with fine pinstripes and curved front pockets. A post shared by NB | Imperial • Royal • Noble • Aristocratic (@noblesblogger) To accessorize, Princess Rajwa chose pieces from Bilarabiya Jewellery. She wore the brand's 'Abjad Hawaz' single earring and a custom necklace bearing the name of her daughter, Princess Iman, written in Arabic. Princess Rajwa sat alongside Princess Iman and Princess Salma, the sisters of the crown prince, who were also dressed in the national team's shirt. The Jordanian national team qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup for the first time in its history, following a decisive 3-0 victory over Oman. Jordan secured its spot on the penultimate day of Asian qualifying for the tournament, which will be held in the US, Mexico and Canada.

Rakan Alireza: From Jeddah's waters to Milan's Olympic slopes
Rakan Alireza: From Jeddah's waters to Milan's Olympic slopes

Arab News

time7 hours ago

  • Arab News

Rakan Alireza: From Jeddah's waters to Milan's Olympic slopes

JEDDAH: Cross-country skier Rakan Alireza has made history as the first Saudi athlete to compete in cross-country skiing at the 2026 Winter Olympics. He is now focused on leaving an even bigger mark on the sport. For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport Known for his unique dual-sport talent in skiing and rowing, Alireza last year won a rowing gold medal at the Saudi Games, the Kingdom's premier national sporting event held annually. Having steadily progressed on the international ski circuit, he has recently competed in several global events, including the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships. Above all, Alireza has successfully qualified for the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics and is already focused on preparing for the prestigious event. 'I've been working toward this goal for years,' Alireza told the media recently. 'It's a dream that's coming closer, but there's still a lot of work to do.' Despite tough competition and limited snow exposure at home, his international experience and discipline keep him in the running. Alireza's journey has already inspired many in the Kingdom. He trains year-round, alternating between alpine slopes and watersport arenas. His ambition extends beyond personal milestones. 'If I can qualify, it opens the door for others. It shows that Saudis belong in winter sports too,' he told Arab News. With growing institutional backing and increasing public interest, Alireza represents a shifting athletic landscape in Saudi Arabia, one where snow is no longer off-limits. For most athletes, preparing for the Winter Olympics involves snow, mountains, and early mornings in alpine silence. For Rakan Alireza, it begins in the desert heat of Jeddah. Now 29, the Saudi athlete will represent the Kingdom in cross-country skiing at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina. Reflecting on the moment he learned he had qualified, Alireza called it 'bittersweet. 'Because when you work for a goal for such a long time, and once you reach it, it feels like the end,' he said. He remembers standing among the crowd at the Milan-Cortina slopes years ago — not as an athlete, but as a spectator — quietly dreaming of carrying his nation's flag across that snow. 'I saw different flags. I remember clearly. I felt like I can't wait to raise the Saudi flag there. That's the only thing I remember.' Skiing is now the sport driving his every move. His routine is a cycle of relentless fitness training. 'Wake up early. Two to three hours of steady-state cardio. Go to work. Do it again in the afternoon. Ninety percent of my training is just cardio,' he says, laughing. But the weight of Olympic qualification is never far from his mind. '(In) 2026, I'm going to Milan. In like eight months; it's really close.' Cross-country skiing and rowing may seem worlds apart, but Alireza sees them as complementary. 'They're both the most aerobic sports in the world. Being in the rowing team helps because I'm surrounded by competitors that make me work hard. 'If you go see the cross-country skiing field, I stick out like a sore thumb. I'm too big for the sport,' Alireza added. 'I drop from 91 kg to 85 during the season. Here in Jeddah, I just can't. It's a struggle.' His choice to pursue both sports was not always welcomed. 'They wanted me to focus strictly on one. But I didn't believe that was my way. I'd rather fail my way than succeed someone else's way.' His commitment to sporting excellence is deeply personal. 'It's a privilege to do what I do. I don't want to waste it. I don't regret anything. Even the race I didn't win, I'd do it again.' Alireza believes that mental strength can be forged through a dedication to motion. 'Anyone who tells me he has problems, I tell him: Go run. Do something boring for a while. You'll be in your head a lot. You need to push past that.' A key figure in his journey is his coach, Christer Skog, a seasoned Swedish trainer who has led national teams in Sweden, the Czech Republic, the UK, and Australia. 'Now he has me. We fight. We eat cake. We move forward,' Alireza laughs. Skog's unconventional methods resonate with him. 'He once told me to go pick mushrooms for dinner instead of training. I ended up hiking for three hours. He just knows how to get my head back into it.' Despite the rigorous training, Alireza remains grounded in humor and family. 'My dad still thinks I should work, but he supports me. My mom is my biggest cheerleader.' Apart from his skiing and rowing adventures, Alireza is also a sports entrepreneur and is currently working with Kona Jeddah Marine Sports Club, Saudi Arabia's first wakeboarding facility. 'I started three years ago. It was a coincidence,' he said. 'I had just returned from a winter trip. I had no job. I was supposed to attend a wedding, but I stayed at the training center instead. That's when my boss saw me and said, 'You're Rakan Alireza? Stay.' Two weeks later, I was hired.' Kona Jeddah is more than a sports club. It's a grassroots incubator offering wakeboarding, stand-up paddleboarding, kayaking, and electric surfboards. 'We introduced wakeboarding in Saudi. We have the first cable system here. The IWWF (International Waterski and Wakeboard Federation) certified us. Now they want to host international competitions. It's something I can contribute to.' Alireza hopes Kona will one day produce Olympic-level athletes. 'We already have MoUs with federations,' he said. 'Rowing, swimming, kayaking. I want someone to go to the Olympics from a sport we built here.' Alireza sees such targets as part of his contribution to the Kingdom's Vision 2030. 'When people say I'm ambitious, I say I'm just following the lead. Our leadership, King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, are ambitious. The country is ambitious. It's a duty for us to contribute.' The 2026 Winter Olympics will run from Feb. 6-22 next year, and as the countdown to the action in Milan continues, Alireza's focus is sharpening. 'I called the CEO of the rowing federation. He said, 'We'd love to have you back, but you should focus on skiing now. You have eight months. Give it your best.' 'Everything runs its course,' Alireza said. 'I haven't reached the point where I hate it. I'll always be in something. 'Maybe retirement from sport? Golf,' he grins. 'But not yet. Not now.'

Uzbekistan Savor Sweet Taste of Success after Sealing World Cup Spot
Uzbekistan Savor Sweet Taste of Success after Sealing World Cup Spot

Asharq Al-Awsat

time7 hours ago

  • Asharq Al-Awsat

Uzbekistan Savor Sweet Taste of Success after Sealing World Cup Spot

Uzbekistan coach Timur Kapadze lauded the efforts of his players after the Central Asian country qualified for the World Cup for the first time. The White Wolves claimed their spot at the expanded 48-team 2026 finals on Thursday with a 0-0 draw in the United Arab Emirates, which guaranteed Kapadze's side a top-two finish in Group A, alongside already-qualified Iran. Uzbekistan have tried and failed to qualify seven times since their independence after the break-up of the Soviet Union in 1991, suffering heartbreak in the final stage of continental qualifiers for Germany 2006 and Brazil 2014. A genuine force in Asia since their 1994 Asian Games triumph, the Uzbekistan FA has invested heavily in youth development in the attempt to take the final step onto the world stage. Kapadze has reaped the dividends with a young generation of players, including Manchester City's 21-year-old center back Abdukodir Khusanov at his disposal. "We have achieved an important result after a long and difficult journey. A lot of work was done for this result, I sincerely congratulate our people," Kapadze told Uzbekistan's online publication Zamin. "This is not only our victory, but the victory of our entire people. Our players showed determination in every match, worked with all their might, and we achieved the result ... " Kapadze, who played 119 times for Uzbekistan and led the under-23 team at last year's Olympic Games, was appointed coach after Srecko Katanec left because of illness in January. "Before the game, (everyone) expressed their confidence in our team's victory and expected a good result from us," he said. "This confidence also became a great responsibility and pressure for us. But we managed to overcome this pressure and complete the task." Kapadze was mobbed by his players in his post-match press conference and received a congratulatory telephone call from Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. "In a fierce competition against the strongest teams in Asia, you demonstrated true character, unbreakable will, and professionalism," Mirziyoyev said.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store