Saudi Football Federation Awarded Gold Membership in the AFC Grassroots Charter.

Riyadh: The Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) has earned golden membership in the Grassroots Charter of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), reaffirming its dedication to developing youth categories and adhering to the highest Asian standards. The SAFF was granted golden membership directly, bypassing lower levels of recognition. This milestone reflects the federation's efforts, particularly through its technical management team, in implementing initiatives outlined in the talent development pathway of the Saudi Football Transformation Strategy, launched in September 2021. According to Saudi Press Agency, the achievement follows an evaluation tour conducted by the AFC in early November, highlighting the SAFF's commitment to youth development. The federation has established over 25 talent identification programs and opened 23 regional training centers across the Kingdom. Youth competitions for ages 15 to 18 have increased from 8 to 12, while regional tournaments for ages 11 to 14 have grown from 35 to 86. Efforts have also focused on enhancing the competitiveness of youth national teams, strengthening amateur leagues, and advancing programs for women's football. Additionally, the SAFF has integrated modern technologies, including the SAFF+ platform for match streaming, analysis, and statistics, enabling academies and private clubs to participate in local competitions. SAFF President Yasser bin Hassan Al-Misehal expressed gratitude, both personally and on behalf of the board members, to the technical department for its exceptional work in developing youth categories. He commended the professional programs designed to discover and refine talent, which played a crucial role in securing the golden membership without progressing through lower levels. Al-Misehal emphasized the federation's continued support for youth football development, noting that this membership acknowledges the significant progress made in recent years. He highlighted initiatives such as the restructuring of youth competitions and str engthening the technical department with skilled expertise as key contributors to this achievement.