The Saudi Pro League (SPL) football competition has announced that it is switching its official match ball supplier from sportswear giant Nike to rival Adidas.

The partnership will begin in February and see the league change its match ball supplier mid-season. 

SPL teams will play with the Adidas Oceaunz ball for the rest of the 2023-24 season, which runs until May. Adidas will then provide an exclusive match ball for the 2024-25 season, starting in August.

The tie-up aims to “promote soccer and its sustained development in Saudi Arabia, enhancing the league’s global interest and commercial attractiveness in the process.” 

Saad Allazeez, vice chairman and interim chief executive of the SPL, said: “Our partnership with Adidas represents a significant next step towards elevating football in Saudi Arabia.

“By aligning with such a recognised and respected global sportswear giant, the league enhances its international visibility and benefits from greater opportunities to attract talent, inspire investment, and foster growth that positively impacts football culture and the game’s national ecosystem. This collaboration can help reshape the kingdom’s football landscape.”

Adidas already signed a four-year kit deal with the Saudi Arabian Football Federation in 2022, where it also took over from Nike.

The German brand also signed players from Saudi Arabia’s men’s and women’s national teams to its regional ambassador portfolio, such as Farah Jefry, Saud Abdualhamed, Yasser Al Shahrani, and Mohammed Al Owais.   

In November, the SPL also announced a partnership with the Mediterranean and Gulf Insurance and Reinsurance Group (Medgulf), an insurance company based in the region.

Real estate firm Roshn, fully-owned by the state-backed Public Investment Fund (PIF), which also controls four SPL teams, has been the league's title sponsor since 2022.

Saudi World Cup 2034

Fifa confirmed on 31 October 2023 that Saudi Arabia has submitted the only bid to host football’s 2034 World Cup. The bid is the culmination of the kingdom’s strategy to become a global force in world football. These are the five pivotal moments that played a significant role in the country’s path to hosting the event:

> Acquisition of Newcastle United

In October 2021, a consortium led by the Public Investment Fund (PIF) completed the full acquisition of UK football club Newcastle United from St James Holdings. The investment group, which also included PCP Capital Partners and RB Sports & Media, finalised the long-awaited deal after securing approval from the English Premier League. The deal was estimated to be worth $415m.  

> Qatar World Cup 2022

In November 2022, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud attended the World Cup opening ceremony in Qatar. He sat with and embraced Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani during the event, a move that emphasised the strengthening ties between the two nations. A few days later, the Saudi national team stunned the world when it beat event tournament winner Argentina 2-1 during a group stage match.

> Cristiano Ronaldo joins Al-Nassr

Portuguese footballer Cristiano Ronaldo joined the Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr in December 2022. The club reportedly paid over $200m to sign the player. Within days, Al-Nassr’s Instagram account had grown from 800,000 followers to over 6 million.

> PIF invests in four clubs

In June 2023, PIF invested in four Saudi football clubs – Al-Ittihad, Al-Ahli, Al-Nassr and Al-Hilal. They were converted into companies, predominantly owned by PIF and complemented by non-profit foundations. The move was followed by a summer of intense football transfer activity, which included Brazilian star Neymar signing for Al-Hilal.

> Saudi Arabia’s World Cup bid

In early October 2023, Saudi Arabia officially announced its bid for the hosting rights of the 2034 Fifa World Cup. Led by the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF), the bid was expected to be the only serious offer. This expectation was confirmed on 31 October.