Photo: Instagram.com/alnassr
Football fans from across the region are more than ready for the King Salman Club Cup. Kicking off tomorrow, July 27, the championship will see 16 leading Arab football clubs square off against each other in the southwest of the Kingdom. With internationally renowned players like Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, and Alex Telles set to enter the field, this is bound to be a memorable championship.
Photo: Instagram.com/alhilal
Known more widely as the Arab Club Champions Cup, the 30th edition of the tournament pays homage to its hosts with the title King Salman Club Cup. While football has always been a favorite in the region, with the rise of Saudi football, the stakes and excitement are even higher. Under the leadership of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabia has been on a mission to disrupt the football world order. Record spending has led to the arrival of football legends such as Ronaldo to the region, and possibly rising stars like Kylian Mbappé in the future.
Photo: Instagram.com/rcaofficiel
Fans are eagerly waiting to see these international names on the fields in Taif, Abha and Al Bahah. Newcomers such as Senegal captain Kalidou Koulibaly, Ballon d’Or holder Benzema, French player N’Golo Kante and former Manchester United player Telles stand as a testimony to the exponentially rising international calibre of Middle Eastern football. From July 27 to August 12, top Arab clubs such as defending champions Raja Casablanca, Zamalek and Esperance de Tunis will join domestic favorites Al Hilal, Al Nasser, and Al Ittihad for a shot at the title.
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