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Saudi Football Federation Unveils Redesigned King's Cup

The winner of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Cup receives a prize of 10 million Saudi Riyals. - SPA
The winner of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Cup receives a prize of 10 million Saudi Riyals. - SPA
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Saudi Football Federation Unveils Redesigned King's Cup

The winner of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Cup receives a prize of 10 million Saudi Riyals. - SPA
The winner of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Cup receives a prize of 10 million Saudi Riyals. - SPA

The Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) revealed the newly redesigned trophy of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Cup during a ceremony held in Riyadh. The event was attended by club representatives, athletes, and media personnel.

The new King's Cup is an evolution of the previous design that was introduced in the 2011-2012 season.

Its unveiling follows Al-Hilal club's achievement of winning the cup for the fourth time. Under the competition's regulations, a team that wins the cup three consecutive times or four times in total has the right to keep the original trophy, SPA reported.

The new precious cup draws inspiration from past editions, incorporating the same design concept that emphasizes the cup's historical significance and value in the region.

The new trophy is crafted from 925 sterling silver coated with 24-carat pure gold. It weighs 9.32 kg, symbolizing the year 1932 when the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was unified.

The new King's Cup is adorned with a football-shaped piece coated in gold and malachite, featuring four distinct handles. In the center, the emblem of crossed swords and a palm tree represents the Kingdom. The cup's name is manually engraved in a circular pattern.

Standing at a height of 54 cm, with a base diameter of 17 cm and a width of 18 cm, the cup rests on a base made of marble and malachite.

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Georgian Teenager Salia's Dream Comes True with Newcastle Move 

Vakhtang Salia, a Georgian footballer who plays as a forward for Dinamo Tbilisi and will officially join Newcastle United on his 18th birthday in August 2025, controls the ball during a match against Samgurali Tskaltubo in the Georgian top football league, in Tbilisi, Georgia, March 6, 2025. (Reuters)
Vakhtang Salia, a Georgian footballer who plays as a forward for Dinamo Tbilisi and will officially join Newcastle United on his 18th birthday in August 2025, controls the ball during a match against Samgurali Tskaltubo in the Georgian top football league, in Tbilisi, Georgia, March 6, 2025. (Reuters)
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Georgian Teenager Salia's Dream Comes True with Newcastle Move 

Vakhtang Salia, a Georgian footballer who plays as a forward for Dinamo Tbilisi and will officially join Newcastle United on his 18th birthday in August 2025, controls the ball during a match against Samgurali Tskaltubo in the Georgian top football league, in Tbilisi, Georgia, March 6, 2025. (Reuters)
Vakhtang Salia, a Georgian footballer who plays as a forward for Dinamo Tbilisi and will officially join Newcastle United on his 18th birthday in August 2025, controls the ball during a match against Samgurali Tskaltubo in the Georgian top football league, in Tbilisi, Georgia, March 6, 2025. (Reuters)

Georgian Vakhtang Salia may only be 17-years-old but he will soon be trading Dinamo Tbilisi's training ground for Newcastle United's famous St James' Park stadium.

The striker, known as Vakho, was with his friends when he heard he would be moving to Premier League Newcastle. He will relocate to England near his 18th birthday in August.

For the young prospect, who started playing aged four and debuted for Dinamo Tbilisi in Georgia's top flight only a year ago, signing for a Premier League club is a dream come true.

"I couldn't believe it. But I can't believe it right up until now. It's my dream to play there," he said.

Salia is part of a rising generation of young Georgian players who have given the South Caucasus country of 3.7 million, which gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, a spot on the world football map.

Salia told Reuters that among the players he most admires are Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Georges Mikautadze, who shone during the Euro 2024 campaign, Georgia's first major tournament. They lost to eventual champions Spain in the last 16.

The Euros saw Georgia, the lowest-ranked team in the tournament, win 2-0 against a Portugal side captained by Cristiano Ronaldo, another of Salia's soccer idols, in the group stage with goals from Kvaratskhelia and Mikautadze.

Salia also hopes to play for Georgia one day.

"Football in Georgia now is getting bigger," he said. "It's every Georgian's dream for Georgia to play in the World Cup and the Euros. And I hope that I'll play one day in the national team, too."

Dinamo Tbilisi head coach Vladimer Kakashvili said that Salia has every chance of becoming as good a player as his more established countrymen, even if the Premier League is a step up.

"Undoubtedly, today English football is among the best in Europe, where there are very high speeds, very high physical standards, and Vakho will need a certain period to get used to that," he said.

Salia's career at Dinamo Tbilisi so far leaves him well placed to shine in England, added Kakashvili.

"When a footballer joins the main team at such a young age, it shows that he's undoubtedly talented, that he undoubtedly works on himself, and that he is a professional of the highest level," he said.

"I think with his talent, strong work ethic, and dedication, he can play in any competition. It won't be a problem."