RIYADH: The second and final day of the World Football Summit in Riyadh put one question firmly in the spotlight: How should Saudi football balance immediate success and long-term growth?
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At first glance, the challenge seems rooted most strongly in the Saudi Pro League, but discussions at MISK City made it clear the real work extends into the wider ecosystem.
This was evident when Mai Alhelabi, CEO of the AFC Asian Cup 2027 Local Organizing Committee, took the stage to discuss Saudi Arabia’s fast-evolving hosting capabilities.
“We’ve actually been functioning as an ecosystem since 2023 — all the government entities, private-sector partners, and of course the AFC — all working together every single day,” she said.
