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Official: Yassine Benzia joins Al-Fayha until 2026
Following in the footsteps of Mahrez and Aouar, Benzia heads to Saudi Arabia Yassine Benzia / @ Saudi club Al-Fayha has officially announced the signing of Algerian international Yassine Benzia. The attacking midfielder has committed to the club until the end of the 2025-2026 season. Following in the footsteps of Mahrez and Aouar, Benzia heads to Saudi Arabia After delivering standout performances with Qarabag FK in Azerbaijan over the past two seasons (104 matches played, 28 goals scored, and 25 assists), Benzia managed to reclaim his spot in the Algerian national team following a long injury layoff. Trained at Olympique Lyonnais, he made his breakthrough at Lille before gaining further experience across Europe: in Turkey with Fenerbahçe and Hatayspor, in Greece with Olympiakos, and back in France with Dijon. After signing his contract, Benzia expressed his delight: 'I'm happy to join Al-Fayha. I can't wait to give my all and help the team achieve its goals this season.' This transfer is part of a growing trend of Algerian stars flocking to the Saudi league, which already features big names like Riyad Mahrez, Houssem Aouar, and Saïd Benrahma.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
🎮 Esports World Cup 2025: A global festival of gaming, glory and growth
The Esports World Cup (EWC) 2025 is more than just a tournament — it's a revolution in global sports culture. Taking place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, through August 24, the seven-week EWC brings together 2,000 elite players and 200 Clubs from over 100 countries to compete across 25 tournaments in 24 of the world's most popular titles. With a record-breaking $70 million prize pool, the EWC is the largest celebration of competitive gaming the world has ever seen. At the heart of the EWC is its defining vision. As Ralf Reichert, CEO of the EWC Foundation, puts it in an exclusive interview with OneFootball, 'EWC's promise, why we exist, is to bring the best games, with the best players, to fight for life-changing prizes and crown the world's best club.' That promise comes to life through the EWC's groundbreaking cross-title Club Championship format — a first-of-its-kind battle where the best esports organisations earn points across multiple games, with the top team winning the coveted title of Esports World Cup Club Champion. EA FC Takes Centre Stage Among the EWC's flagship titles is EA SPORTS FC, the global leader in digital football. 'EA FC, being the clear leader in digital football, is obviously a dream game for that promise,' says Reichert. 'It has a special place because it connects the traditional sports world with the esports world.' With more than 25 years of history, EA FC has achieved something remarkable: 'It rallied the whole digital football world around it,' says Reichert. 'It has simulated the traditional sport and created a digital world for all of it, which is fantastic.' This year, EWC 2025 will host the Pro World Championship for EA FC in Riyadh, solidifying what Reichert describes as 'the partnership between the Esports World Cup and EA, to make this the most meaningful tournament that's out there — and a platform to grow that specific sport.' A Movement Backed by History and Vision Reichert's personal journey in gaming — from growing up with an Atari to founding one of Germany's earliest esports teams — mirrors the story of esports itself. 'We founded a team called 'Schroet Kommando' in June 1997 with a clear agenda: becoming the best in Germany, then Europe,' he recalls. That path led him to co-found ESL and, eventually, lead the Esports World Cup Foundation, which is committed to building a sustainable, globally inclusive future for the sport. 'Nowadays, no kid in the world grows up without playing video games,' Reichert explains. 'Everyone has a powerful console in their pocket called a mobile phone. So the access to esports has been dramatically increasing, and there's almost no barrier to entry — which is actually similar to football, and is part of the success.' This connection to traditional sport runs deep in Reichert's philosophy. 'Football is based on people playing with a ball… Esports is exactly the same. People play a video game, create competition, and people start watching — it becomes a mass phenomenon.' EWC 2025: Built for Players, Backed by Nations This year's Esports World Cup represents a new era for esports. For the first time, an entire country is embracing and backing the event at scale. 'Historically, we've seen this with the Football World Cup, the Olympics… politically endorsed and supported events,' says Reichert. 'The Esports World Cup is the first time that this happens at such a scale in esports.' That support is crucial. In Saudi Arabia, where the EWC is held, '70% of the people identify themselves as gamers,' notes Reichert. 'The target group itself is going to continue to grow over the next 10, 20, 30 years.' Boulevard City in Riyadh has become the epicentre of this cultural phenomenon, hosting not just the EWC competition but an immersive festival of fandom — from retro arcades to anime cafés, cosplay, live music, and creator meet-ups. It's a celebration of every corner of gaming culture. Stars on the Stage — and in the Stands The EWC isn't just attracting fans — it's attracting icons. 'Cristiano Ronaldo being one of the ambassadors of the Esports World Cup — that's the ultimate example,' says Reichert. 'He brings in a lot of eyeballs, a lot of credibility. And we couldn't be more proud.' This intersection of traditional and digital sports is exactly what makes EWC unique. 'There's much more overlap between football players and esports athletes than anyone thinks,' Reichert adds. 'Many players are amazing at the game, and fans of the game as well.' Looking Ahead EWC 2024 shattered records, with 500 million viewers and 2.6 million in-person visits. And Reichert is confident that 'this year will only grow.' With 3 billion gamers around the world, and hundreds of millions more football fans, the potential audience is staggering. Still, the heart of the event remains the same: the players. 'We talk a lot about the clubs, the ecosystem and the game,' Reichert says, 'but at the end of the day, it's always about the players.' And whether on the football pitch or in front of a screen, the lessons learned through sport endure. 'The EQ, the resilience, the idea that you can't always win… that tomorrow's a new game, a new chance — sport teaches you that very, very well. And esport is exactly the same.' The Esports World Cup 2025 is not just a tournament. It's the future of global sport — unified by technology, inspired by tradition, and driven by the passion of players and fans across the world. 📸 All imagery courtesy of EWCF
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Abu Dhabi Powers Up The Games of the Future 2025 with a Lineup of Phygital Disciplines
11 phygital disciplines announced as Abu Dhabi prepares to host phygital athletes and fans this December $5 million prize pool up for grabs in global showcase blending physical skill and digital mastery ABU DHABI, UAE, Aug. 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Games of the Future 2025 is set to ignite the global sports calendar with a high-octane lineup of phygital disciplines; a fusion of physical athleticism and immersive digital gameplay. Taking place from 18-23 December at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), this hybrid tournament brings together the world's top phygital athletes for six days of action-packed competition across 11 cutting-edge disciplines. With a total prize pool of $5 million on offer, phygital clubs and athletes from all across the world will be fighting for their right to be champions of the discipline they're participating in. The Games of the Future is the pinnacle of the phygital sports calendar, and every element of the tournament is curated to engage both physical and digital audiences. The 11 disciplines that will be competed at the event are: Phygital Football: Begins with a football video game before the athletes play football on a pitch Phygital Basketball: A basketball video game round followed by physical on-court action Phygital Fighting: Athletes first compete in a fighting video game, then continue the bout in a physical arena Phygital Dancing: Athletes match their live movements to an interactive rhythm video game Phygital Shooter: Clubs face off in digital shooter round followed by a round of laser tag Battle Royale: A competitive format where clubs fight to be the last club standing MOBA PC: A Multiplayer Online Battle Arena tournament played on PC MOBA Mobile: A Multiplayer Online Battle Arena tournament played on mobile Drone Racing: Pilots navigate high speed drones through an obstacle course using first-person view headsets VR Games: Virtual environments where players rely on reflexes and spatial awareness Battle of Robots: Remote-controlled robots face off in fast-paced, head-to-head combat To be at the top of these disciplines requires a new class of athlete – combining physical prowess and digital dexterity, performing under intense pressure in a ground-breaking and exciting new event format that will attract fans of all ages. Stephane Timpano, CEO of ASPIRE, said: "This tournament is where elite clubs and future-facing experiences converge. Hosting the Games of the Future in Abu Dhabi reflects our commitment to elevating the global conversation around the future blend of sport and technology, and Abu Dhabi makes the perfect host for this bold experiment. With UAE Vision 2031 and the Year of Community in mind, we're fostering diverse participation, shared innovation, and new connections across cultures and generations." Nis Hatt, CEO of Phygital International, said: "With confirmation of these 11 disciplines and the prize pool, the stage is set for Abu Dhabi to be the center of phygital sports in this year's exciting, global Games of the Future. Athletes and fans will join us in experiencing the immersive and high-octane experience of phygital sports, which are built for the next generation. As the guardians of the phygital movement, we are proud to bring the Games of the Future to life. It is a global stage for innovation, inclusion, and imagination." Before the spotlight turns to the Games of the Future this December, Phygital Contenders: Abu Dhabi – Football took place at ADNEC, transforming the venue into a dynamic arena where global contenders participated in the final qualifying stage to fight for a place in the Phygital Football discipline at this year's Games of the Future. The tournament set the stage for the 21 participating clubs in a hyper-interactive space where tactical smarts and athletic precision collided in sync. As the action unfolded, athletes and enthusiasts alike got a first taste of the energy that will define the Games of the Future 2025. ADNEC will also serve as the arena for the Games of the Future in December. As a dynamic space purpose-built for innovation and scale, it will be transformed into a futuristic arena suitable for this ground-breaking global event - offering the ideal environment to deliver a world-class phygital sports showcase. Its strategic infrastructure and operational excellence continue to position Abu Dhabi as a leading destination for international events at the intersection of technology, sport, and culture. About Phygital International (PI): Phygital International is the promoter of phygital sports globally and is focused on innovating and redefining sports. It is the custodian and rights holder of the Games of the Future and oversees the bidding process for each host city. For further information please visit: https:// About the Games of the Future: The Games of the Future is an annual international event that fuses the worlds of physical and digital and is the pinnacle of phygital sport. The tournament brings together the next generation of phygital sporting heroes from all over the world to compete in a diverse range of phygital disciplines and challenges. The Games of the Future 2025 will be held in Abu Dhabi, UAE while the Games of the Future 2026, will be held in Astana, Kazakhstan. For more information please visit: About ASPIRE: ASPIRE drives the creation of future transformative technologies as the innovation accelerator arm of Abu Dhabi's Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC). ATRC is responsible for defining Abu Dhabi's research and development strategy, consolidating funds for efficient investment, and driving policy and regulation. ASPIRE works in consultation with cross-sector industry stakeholders, universities, and research institutes to frame problem statements. It also launches grand challenges and international competitions to solve some of the world's most pressing issues. ASPIRE brings together exceptional people, ideas, resources, and technologies to solve complex challenges. For more information, visit About ETHARA: Ethara is shaping the future of entertainment, sport, culture, event services, and asset management regionally and internationally. With offices in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Riyadh, the company employs over 300 professionals who offer an unrivalled wealth of expertise, experience, knowledge and skills. Ethara, meaning 'thrill' in Arabic, operates an impressive portfolio of assets, including Yas Marina Circuit, Etihad Park, Etihad Arena, Yas Conference Centre, Zayed Sports City, and the House of Sustainability. The company works with leading events companies, IP owners, and entertainment partners locally and internationally to deliver world-class, first-to-market events and experiences. For further information, visit: SOURCE Games of the Future Sign in to access your portfolio
