The President of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation believes Friday night's FIFA Club World Cup fixture between local heroes Al-Ittihad and Egypt's Al Ahly will be the “perfect window" for the world into the passion driving the Kingdom's vast investment into football.
Yasser Al-Misehal shared his thoughts ahead of what will be an electric evening at Jeddah's King Abdullah Sports City stadium, where more than 60,000 fans will gather for what is being dubbed the 'clash of the Arab giants', with a FIFA Club World Cup semi-final place going to the winners.
With Jeddah being home to a large number of the estimated 1.5million Egyptians living in Saudi Arabia, a loud, partisan crowd is expected to pack out the Red Sea city's “Jewel" stadium, making for what promises to be feverous atmosphere.
That diversity will shape the stands a little differently to Tuesday night's opening tournament fixture, which saw Al-Ittihad ease to a comfortable 3-0 win against outsiders Auckland City of New Zealand in a stadium almost entirely full with yellow-clad Al-Ittihad supporters.
That game saw superstar signings Karim Benzema and N'Golo Kanté score two of the Saudi Pro League champions three goals – big name acquisitions that have not only elevated Al-Ittihad's expectations in this Saudi-hosting of the FIFA Club World Cup, but which have also helped transform the wider status of Saudi football on a global stage.
To Yasser Al-Misehal, President of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation, it is enormously exciting to see a Saudi club compete at world football's top table. The victor of tonight's match tees-up a FIFA Club World Cup semi-final against South American champions Fluminense, with UEFA Champions League winners Manchester City lurking as a potential final opponent if they make it through that.
However, as much as the Saudi Arabian Football Federation enjoy seeing their clubs advancing, Al-Misehal insists that success on the pitch is not what is driving the considerable investment being made into Saudi football. For that, he says, you need to look to the stands.
He said: “There is so much excitement ahead of this match tonight. It is rare at this level of club football that you have the eyes of the world on a match between two Arab sides, but that is what we are lucky to have today, with Al-Ittihad against Al Ahly in the FIFA Club World Cup.
“The passion that both sets of supporters will bring to the match tonight will make for a truly memorable spectacle. As our own fans showed on matchday one, the love for football and the level of football fandom we have here can rival anywhere else in the world. Football is more than just a passing interest for fans here: it is an obsession, a lifetime commitment. For many people, it is everything. The atmosphere in the stadium tonight will pay testament to that.
“Saudi football has grown enormously in the last few years, giving our game truly global appeal and interest. We are often asked why we are putting this level of commitment into the game. The answer to that will in the stands tonight. This is the passion that drives everything we're doing. Having two massive Arab clubs compete in the FIFA Club World Cup here in Jeddah is the perfect window for the world into why we are doing everything we can to grow football. It's driven by our people and their passion for this sport."
