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Jeddah to Host Variety of World-Focused Sporting Events Starting with Spanish Super Cup in 2025

Culture Square aims to enrich the visitor journey while positioning the district as a global tourist destination, in alignment with Saudi Vision 2030. SPA
Culture Square aims to enrich the visitor journey while positioning the district as a global tourist destination, in alignment with Saudi Vision 2030. SPA
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Jeddah to Host Variety of World-Focused Sporting Events Starting with Spanish Super Cup in 2025

Culture Square aims to enrich the visitor journey while positioning the district as a global tourist destination, in alignment with Saudi Vision 2030. SPA
Culture Square aims to enrich the visitor journey while positioning the district as a global tourist destination, in alignment with Saudi Vision 2030. SPA

Jeddah will host a range of diverse sporting events and activities during the first third of 2025, beginning with the Spanish Super Cup, marking its fifth edition in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from January 8 to 12, as part of ongoing efforts to enhance the sports, economic, and tourism sectors.
According to SPA, the championship will feature matches involving four clubs: Real Madrid, Barcelona, Athletic Bilbao, and Real Mallorca. These will be held at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium and played in a knockout format. The first match will see Barcelona face Athletic Bilbao on Wednesday, January 8, followed by Real Madrid versus Real Mallorca on Thursday, January 9. The winners will advance to the final match, which will take place on Sunday evening, January 12,
Jeddah will also continue hosting major sports events with the Formula E races, featuring the third and fourth rounds of the 11th season on February 14-15 at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, showcasing fully electric, carbon-free racing cars.
Additionally, Jeddah will host the 2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix stc Formula 1, one of the most thrilling and popular global races, for the fifth consecutive year at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, from April 18 to 20. The Saudi Arabian Grand Prix stc Formula 1 is part of the Kingdom’s broader vision for the future, aimed at improving the quality of life for everyone across various social sectors, from culture to sports, contributing to building a more prosperous nation. This aligns with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 to make the Kingdom a desirable destination for living and visiting.
Jeddah will once again host the opening round of the E1 Electric Boat Racing on January 24-25. Last year, this event generated great excitement as competitors vied for the championship cup, won by the Brady team with 20 points in the first round held on the Red Sea coast. Jeddah will also host the Extreme E electric off-road race for the fifth consecutive time, showcasing a new and innovative form of electric car racing that highlights the impact of climate change on the environment and promotes eco-friendly technologies in sustainability. This supports the transition to electric vehicles, contributing to carbon reduction and sustainability for a better future on Earth.
Furthermore, Jeddah will host matches of the Saudi national football team in the qualifiers for the World Cup 2026, along with a series of other major global events and competitions to be announced by the Ministry of Sport and its federations in the coming period.

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Sports

Antonelli Back to Work as Mercedes Chase Title Double

Formula One F1 - Interview with 2026 Formula One World Champion Mercedes driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli - Sao Paulo, Brazil - November 4, 2026 Mercedes' Andrea Kimi Antonelli during the interview REUTERS/Amanda Perobelli
Formula One F1 - Interview with 2026 Formula One World Champion Mercedes driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli - Sao Paulo, Brazil - November 4, 2026 Mercedes' Andrea Kimi Antonelli during the interview REUTERS/Amanda Perobelli
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Antonelli Back to Work as Mercedes Chase Title Double

Formula One F1 - Interview with 2026 Formula One World Champion Mercedes driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli - Sao Paulo, Brazil - November 4, 2026 Mercedes' Andrea Kimi Antonelli during the interview REUTERS/Amanda Perobelli
Formula One F1 - Interview with 2026 Formula One World Champion Mercedes driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli - Sao Paulo, Brazil - November 4, 2026 Mercedes' Andrea Kimi Antonelli during the interview REUTERS/Amanda Perobelli

Five celebratory days on from claiming the Formula One world title, Kimi Antonelli will seek to lead Mercedes to the double this weekend by beating Ferrari to take the constructors' championship at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.

The youngest champion in F1 history, and first Italian winner for 73 years, will be bidding for his 10th win of a remarkable season, but knows luckless team-mate George Russell will be intent on returning to winning ways himself, said AFP.

Blighted by ill-fortune and a series of car failures, the Briton is aiming for a strong end to the season, with a repeat of his 2022 triumph at Interlagos, to give him a springboard for a title challenge in 2027.

"All I can promise is that for the rest of this season, and into the next one, I will be giving my absolute all to rediscover the performance I have been capable of producing for the majority of my career," Russell said.

"And fingers crossed that a little bit of luck returns," he added earlier this week after congratulating 20-year-old Antonelli on finishing third in Mexico to clinch his maiden title.

Russell is without a win in four races since dominating from pole position in Baku and is chasing a fourth win this year.

Deputy technical director Simone Resta conceded, as did team chief Toto Wolff, that Mercedes had failed Russell.

"We really need to sort out these problems for the future," he said.

"We let George down and he really deserves to have a chance to fight for a much higher position...

"It's clear for the team -- we need to maximize our points and results to win the championship. We are focused on it and we will do our best to achieve it."

Mercedes need to outscore Ferrari by three points or more to be champions.

While Russell licked his wounds, Antonelli visited the family of his childhood hero Ayrton Senna and was photographed sitting in the three-time champion's famous black and gold Lotus 98T car -- complete with number 12 on the nose, the number the Italian has said he will keep next year.

- Local hope Camara -

Both of the Silver Arrows' drivers will be strongly challenged too by Red Bull's in-form four-time champion Max Verstappen, who has won three of the last four races including resisting Lewis Hamilton's late charge in Mexico last Sunday.

The speed of his team-mate Isack Hadjar will be a threat along with both Ferraris, with Hamilton still smarting from their failure to triumph in Mexico due to poor teamwork and Charles Leclerc's first-lap attack.

Ferrari, however, are without a win in Brazil since 2017 when the previous youngest champion Sebastian Vettel was victorious.

After flying home to Monaco to be with his wife Alexandra Saint Mleux for the birth of their first child, a daughter called Bianca, the late-arriving Leclerc may have other things on his mind.

He is set to be rested in Friday's first practice with reserve driver Dino Beganovic running alongside Hamilton, who is both a three-time winner and an honorary citizen of Brazil loved by the passionate Interlagos crowd.

Last year's winner and champion Lando Norris of McLaren should not be ruled out on a track where he has started from pole for the last two years.

Local hope Rafael Camara, 21, was expected to replace Leclerc but has instead been given a seat at Haas, succeeding Ryo Hirakawa who replaced the dumped Esteban Ocon in Mexico last weekend and finished 10th on debut.

Camara will make his F1 debut on his home track with the American team.

Sports

Cristiano Ronaldo Announces International Retirement

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Nations League - Group B - Portugal v Wales - Estadio Jose Alvalade, Lisbon, Portugal - September 24, 2026 Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates scoring their second goal before it is ruled out for offside following a VAR review REUTERS/Pedro Nunes/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Nations League - Group B - Portugal v Wales - Estadio Jose Alvalade, Lisbon, Portugal - September 24, 2026 Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates scoring their second goal before it is ruled out for offside following a VAR review REUTERS/Pedro Nunes/File Photo
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Cristiano Ronaldo Announces International Retirement

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Nations League - Group B - Portugal v Wales - Estadio Jose Alvalade, Lisbon, Portugal - September 24, 2026 Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates scoring their second goal before it is ruled out for offside following a VAR review REUTERS/Pedro Nunes/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Nations League - Group B - Portugal v Wales - Estadio Jose Alvalade, Lisbon, Portugal - September 24, 2026 Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates scoring their second goal before it is ruled out for offside following a VAR review REUTERS/Pedro Nunes/File Photo

Portuguese football legend Cristiano Ronaldo announced on Thursday that he was retiring from international football.
The 41-year-old, who has played 234 times for Portugal and scored 146 goals, fell out with national coach Jorge Jesus last month after he refused to use him in a Nations League match. Ronaldo immediately left the team camp.
"To the Portuguese people, the day has come for me to hand back the number seven shirt of our national team," Ronaldo said in a video on his Instagram account.
"I never felt it belonged to me alone, but for 23 years I had the privilege and the responsibility of wearing it, defending it and carrying it with me into stadiums all around the world," he continued.

 

 

Sports

Australian F1 Great Alan Jones Dies Aged 80

Australian Formula One 1980 champion Alan Jones at the funeral of Jack Brabham in 2014. PATRICK HAMILTON / AFP
Australian Formula One 1980 champion Alan Jones at the funeral of Jack Brabham in 2014. PATRICK HAMILTON / AFP
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Australian F1 Great Alan Jones Dies Aged 80

Australian Formula One 1980 champion Alan Jones at the funeral of Jack Brabham in 2014. PATRICK HAMILTON / AFP
Australian Formula One 1980 champion Alan Jones at the funeral of Jack Brabham in 2014. PATRICK HAMILTON / AFP

Alan Jones, one of only two Australians to win the Formula One world championship, died on Thursday days after his 80th birthday.

Jones won 12 grands prix across his career and became world title-holder in 1980, joining Jack Brabham as the only Australians to have done so.

Jones -- whose birthday was on Monday -- died after a brief illness.

"He will be dearly missed and fondly remembered by those closest to him, as well as the many fans whose support he was always grateful for," said a statement released on behalf of his wife Amanda Butler-Davis, according to national broadcaster ABC.

"Alan dedicated his life to motorsport, building a legacy that will live on through the countless people he touched along the way.

"Through his achievements, passion and unmistakable character, both on and off the track, Alan left an enduring mark on the sport both nationally and across the globe."

Jones, whose father Stan was a racing driver and winner of the 1959 Australian Grand Prix, moved to Britain in 1970 to pursue his F1 dreams.

Racing for Williams, the Melbourne-born Jones became world champion a decade later.

After retiring from the sport in 1986 he went into broadcasting.

In a tribute, the Australian Grand Prix said Jones "holds a special place in the history of our sport".

"His 1980 world championship inspired a generation of Australian motorsport fans," it said in a statement.

"His victory at the Australian Grand Prix that same year remains the last time an Australian driver has won their home grand prix.

"He leaves an extraordinary legacy in Australian motorsport and will be deeply missed by the motorsport community around the world."