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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

Saudi Sports Facilities Advance Under Vision 2030 to Host Global Championships

Kingdom's 2034 FIFA World Cup plans include 15 stadiums distributed across five major cities - SPA
Kingdom's 2034 FIFA World Cup plans include 15 stadiums distributed across five major cities - SPA
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Saudi Sports Facilities Advance Under Vision 2030 to Host Global Championships

Kingdom's 2034 FIFA World Cup plans include 15 stadiums distributed across five major cities - SPA
Kingdom's 2034 FIFA World Cup plans include 15 stadiums distributed across five major cities - SPA

Driven by the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030, the Kingdom continues to upgrade its sports infrastructure to the highest international standards, establishing itself as a global hub for premier tournaments backed by an expanding network of world-class venues.

In recent years, Saudi Arabia has hosted major global and continental competitions across its premier facilities. Leading the way is King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah, with a capacity exceeding 62,000 spectators and an established record of hosting regional and international championships, supported by the recently redeveloped Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Sports City, SPA reported.

In Riyadh, comprehensive modernization is underway at King Fahd Sports City to elevate its facilities to premier global standards ahead of future international events. Concurrently, construction is advancing on multiple state-of-the-art venues, led by the 47,000-seat Aramco Stadium in Al-Khobar, scheduled for completion next month, which will host matches during the 2027 AFC Asian Cup.

Future pipeline projects feature the Jeddah Central Stadium, designed to reflect local architectural heritage, and the multi-purpose Prince Mohammed bin Salman Stadium in Qiddiya, alongside numerous venues being developed across the Kingdom.

Anchoring these developments, the Kingdom's 2034 FIFA World Cup plans include 15 stadiums distributed across five major cities, comprising 11 newly built venues and four extensively upgraded sports cities. This large-scale infrastructure program underscores Saudi Arabia's rising prominence on the international sporting map and its sustained readiness to deliver global tournaments.

Sports

Europe's Top Leagues Add to Pressure on Infantino by Calling for FIFA Reform

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - FIFA Under-20 Women's World Cup - Group A - Poland v Argentina - Arena Katowice, Katowice, Poland - September 5, 2026 FIFA President Gianni Infantino reacts inside the stadium before the match REUTERS/Kacper Pempel/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - FIFA Under-20 Women's World Cup - Group A - Poland v Argentina - Arena Katowice, Katowice, Poland - September 5, 2026 FIFA President Gianni Infantino reacts inside the stadium before the match REUTERS/Kacper Pempel/File Photo
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Europe's Top Leagues Add to Pressure on Infantino by Calling for FIFA Reform

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - FIFA Under-20 Women's World Cup - Group A - Poland v Argentina - Arena Katowice, Katowice, Poland - September 5, 2026 FIFA President Gianni Infantino reacts inside the stadium before the match REUTERS/Kacper Pempel/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - FIFA Under-20 Women's World Cup - Group A - Poland v Argentina - Arena Katowice, Katowice, Poland - September 5, 2026 FIFA President Gianni Infantino reacts inside the stadium before the match REUTERS/Kacper Pempel/File Photo

The Premier League and three other top European leagues have called for governance reform of FIFA following Gianni Infantino's failed plan to sell stakes in the World Cup.

A joint statement with leagues from Spain, Italy and Germany accused FIFA's president of actively promoting “exploitative ideas rather than safeguarding against them.”

The Premier League is soccer's richest and most popular league. Its collaboration with Europe's other leading leagues adds to the growing pressure on Infantino, who plans for stand for re-election despite losing the support of many national federation over his controversial plan to sell profits in the World Cup through a commercial subsidiary.

“Football’s longstanding foundations have, in recent years, been threatened by a fundamental governance problem,” the statement said.

Sports

Alcaraz Calls for End to Late-night Finishes at Grand Slams

Spain's Carlos Alcaraz poses on the black carpet upon arrival to attend the Laver Cup opening night gala, in Greenwich, east London on September 24, 2026. (Photo by Henry NICHOLLS / AFP)
Spain's Carlos Alcaraz poses on the black carpet upon arrival to attend the Laver Cup opening night gala, in Greenwich, east London on September 24, 2026. (Photo by Henry NICHOLLS / AFP)
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Alcaraz Calls for End to Late-night Finishes at Grand Slams

Spain's Carlos Alcaraz poses on the black carpet upon arrival to attend the Laver Cup opening night gala, in Greenwich, east London on September 24, 2026. (Photo by Henry NICHOLLS / AFP)
Spain's Carlos Alcaraz poses on the black carpet upon arrival to attend the Laver Cup opening night gala, in Greenwich, east London on September 24, 2026. (Photo by Henry NICHOLLS / AFP)

Carlos Alcaraz has had enough of pulling all-nighters at Grand Slams, urging organizers to finish play by 11 p.m. after his US Open title defense came to an end in a grueling 3:33 a.m. finish earlier this month.

Ben Shelton beat Alcaraz in the quarter-finals of the US Open in the latest-ever finish at the year's final Grand Slam.

Prior to that, three matches ended after 2 a.m. during the tournament's opening week, while two more ran well beyond midnight and Venus Williams was involved in the latest-starting clash that began at 12:13 a.m.

"I think it's too much," seven-times Grand Slam champion Alcaraz told reporters in London on Thursday ahead of the Laver Cup.

"The last match people stayed but if ⁠that match was ⁠played earlier, the court could have been packed.

"I would like to change the schedule a little with a maximum finish at 11 p.m., or whatever would be better."

The United States Tennis Association, which organizes the US Open, did not immediately respond to a Reuters emailed request for comment outside regular business hours, but the body has said it will evaluate scheduling options in ⁠the future.

Other Grand Slams have taken action to curb late finishes, with Wimbledon halting play under an 11 p.m. local curfew and the French Open limiting night sessions to one match.

The issue has gained traction amid a broader pushback by top players over working conditions, including a packed competitive calendar.

Andre Agassi, captain of Team World at the Laver Cup, stressed the need for guaranteed downtime at the end of the season.

"It would be my hope (for) an off-season of some relative form of security for both the players, but also for the fans so that ⁠they look ⁠forward to the game," the eight-times Grand Slam champion told reporters.

"I think in a lot of cases, tennis would benefit from that."

Asked about where the Laver Cup, which is named after Australian great Rod Laver and borders on being an exhibition event, fits into the tennis schedule, Agassi replied: "I think this is a fantastic event.

"I'd hate to see the compromise ever come on an event like this that is hosted under such a magnificent name and person that none of us would be here today without in this game.

"So this wouldn't be the place I would choose to cut some edges. But I would like to see these awesome athletes always be at their best. I think everybody wins with that."