LEAP 2025: How tech will transform Saudi Arabia’s FIFA World Cup

Saudi Arabia’s FIFA World Cup 2034 is all set to embrace technology and transform the country.

Emphasizing the importance of technology in Saudi Arabia’s broader vision for football development and societal transformation, Hammad Albalawi, Head of the Saudi Arabia FIFA World Cup 2034 bid unit, said the country is ready to embrace change like never before.

Important: AI data centre, key tech deals signed at LEAP 2025

On the first day of LEAP’s inaugural Sports Tech track, Albalawi sat down with former France international and UEFA Champions League winner Patrice Evra to discuss the Kingdom’s plans for this historic global event.

Albalawi also emphasized that LEAP 2025 serves as a proof of Saudi Arabia’s commitment to utilizing available technology. The country intends to use technology to:

• Improve the event’s live viewing experience
• Enhance athlete performance
• Streamline the World Cup’s operations

How technology is changing the face of football around the world

At LEAP 2025, Javier Tebas, President of Spain’s LaLiga – the world’s second most-watched football league – discussed how AI is benefiting football clubs both on and off the pitch. Acknowledging how AI is transforming lives, he described the technology as “changing the history of sport.”

Read on: Tahaluf CEO Mike Champion on LEAP’s meteoric rise in Saudi Arabia

Tebas pointed out that 85 percent of sports events now use AI, helping football clubs, coaches, and trainers improve their efficiency.

He also noted that while AI can help clubs tackle piracy and copyright challenges, there is a growing need for more global collaboration. “Right now, there is content being published illegally,” he said. “We must protect the copyright of our game and our clubs. More collaboration is needed between clubs, tech companies, and media channels. We see Saudi Arabia as a bridge to new technologies and greater collaboration.”

Saudi Arabia and football: How far has the country come?

Saudi Arabia’s love affair with football spans many years, with significant growth in women’s football. There are now three divisions, 20 clubs, and over 90,000 women playing the game nationwide.

“The World Cup is not the result – it is a milestone in a journey we are continuously investing in. Whether it’s in the men’s or women’s game, we look forward to fostering partnerships, engagement, and friendships,” Albalawi reiterated.

“LEAP is a great platform for people to truly understand where these opportunities lie,” Albalawi added, speaking on a day when sessions focused on everything from digital streaming and tech-driven revenue diversification to hydrogen racing, SailGP, and virtual reality (VR) boxing.