Badr Al-Ruzaiza Takes Charge of Saudi Football Federation.. Thanks Yasser Al-Misehal After 7 Years

Badr Al-Ruzaiza officially takes over as president of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation after his list won by acclamation, thanking Yasser Al-Misehal and pledging to continue developing Saudi football.

  Sun , August 30 2026 / 04:04 PM Updated At: 2026-08-30 16:04:58

بدر الرزيزاء

Badr Al-Ruzaiza has officially taken over as president of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation after his list was elected by acclamation, beginning a new chapter in the leadership of Saudi football amid major ambitions to continue the development and success achieved during recent years. ⚽🇸🇦🔥

The change in leadership comes at a time of growing attention surrounding the future of Saudi football, particularly after the significant progress witnessed across the country’s sporting sector, alongside a number of important upcoming commitments involving national teams and domestic competitions.

Following his election, Badr Al-Ruzaiza paid tribute to Yasser Al-Misehal, the former president of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation, praising the work carried out by the previous board during a seven-year period.

Badr Al-Ruzaiza Thanks Yasser Al-Misehal

The new federation president delivered a special message of appreciation to Yasser Al-Misehal and the members of the previous board, stressing that the seven years spent managing the federation represented a significant and challenging period.

Al-Ruzaiza said after his election: “I did not prepare any words because I wanted to say one thing: thank you, Yasser Al-Misehal, you and your colleagues. Seven years was not a short time.”

His message reflects the new administration’s appreciation for the work carried out by the previous leadership and underlines its intention to build on what has already been achieved rather than treating the new era as a complete break from the previous one. ⭐

Praise for the Previous Board

Badr Al-Ruzaiza explained that the previous board faced considerable challenges during its seven-year term, highlighting the responsibilities involved in managing the Saudi football system.

According to Al-Riyadiyah, he added: “Seven years were not easy for the previous board, and we thank our colleagues for what they presented and accomplished during their term.”

The message is significant as the new administration seeks to begin its mandate with a spirit of cooperation and continuity while benefiting from the experience and lessons of the previous period.

A New Era for Saudi Football

Badr Al-Ruzaiza and his new board enter a period filled with challenges and ambitions as Saudi football continues to gain increased regional and international recognition.

The main objective of the new administration is to continue developing the football system, improve competitions and national teams and support the different sectors connected to the sport.

Al-Ruzaiza has made clear that the goal is not simply to preserve previous achievements but to build on them and create new opportunities for Saudi football. 🏆

Leadership and Ministry of Sport Support

The new Saudi federation president highlighted the support Saudi sport receives from the country’s leadership and the Ministry of Sport, describing it as an important factor in implementing future development plans.

He explained that the financial and administrative backing gives the federation the opportunity to pursue more ambitious projects involving national teams, domestic competitions and football development programs.

Al-Ruzaiza said: “Saudi football today enjoys significant financial support from the leadership and the Ministry of Sport, and we hope to continue achieving success. We have the Gulf Cup and Asian Cup ahead of us, and we aim to win them.”

The comments underline the scale of the ambitions facing the new administration, particularly with regional and continental titles among its major targets.

Gulf Cup and Asian Cup Among the Priorities

Al-Ruzaiza identified upcoming national-team competitions as important priorities for his new administration, stressing that the challenge extends beyond domestic competitions to competing for major international titles.

The Gulf Cup and Asian Cup will provide major tests for the new football leadership, particularly because strong results in major tournaments will be one of the key indicators of the success of its development plans.

The federation is expected to work on creating the best possible preparation conditions for the national team while supporting coaching staff and players in pursuit of the stated objectives. 🔥🇸🇦

“We Have a Lot of Work Ahead”

Badr Al-Ruzaiza has not lowered expectations, instead acknowledging that the new phase will require significant effort and continuous work.

He said: “We have a lot of work ahead, and we seek more work and development so that our sport can be among the leading nations in the world.”

The statement indicates that the new board views its task as a long-term project requiring continuous administrative, technical and organizational development rather than short-term results alone.

New Saudi Football Federation Board

The new board of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation consists of Badr Al-Ruzaiza as president and Louay Mashabi as vice president, alongside seven members: Lamia Bahaian, Fahad Al-Mansour, Salman Al-Sudairi, Thamer Al-Saadoun, Omar Al-Juraisi, Nicolas Coard and Gerard Rudi.

The new board begins its term with the objective of continuing the development of Saudi football’s various sectors, while focusing on technical and administrative matters, competitions and national teams.

Continuing the Development Journey

The new administration will seek to maintain the momentum Saudi football has built in recent years while developing its different sectors in a more organized and sustainable manner.

Key areas are expected to include improving domestic competitions, supporting clubs, developing national teams and investing in young players to build a stronger foundation for the future.

These objectives will require cooperation between the federation, clubs and other sporting bodies because football development cannot depend on a single institution but requires a coordinated system working toward shared goals.

A New Beginning With Major Ambitions

Badr Al-Ruzaiza takes charge of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation at a time of significant expectations, with the responsibility of building on previous achievements while presenting a new vision for the next stage.

His message of appreciation to Yasser Al-Misehal at the beginning of his tenure also reflects his desire to maintain continuity and benefit from the legacy of the previous administration while opening the door to further development.

Saudi football now enters a new era under Badr Al-Ruzaiza, with major ambitions to continue achieving success, compete for major titles and strengthen Saudi football’s position on the global sporting stage.

📢 Do you think Badr Al-Ruzaiza can continue Saudi football’s development and deliver the ambitions of supporters in the coming period? Share your opinion and prediction in the comments. ⚽🇸🇦🔥

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