World Football Summit (WFS) has announced the winners of the WFS Honours 2025, recognising the individuals and organisations driving football’s transformation in Saudi Arabia and the wider Middle East region.
The WFS Riyadh Honours were first introduced in 2023 during WFS’s inaugural edition in Saudi Arabia, held in Jeddah, and celebrate outstanding achievement across key areas of the game and the industry. This year’s edition, presented in partnership with Arena Events+Venues, honours groundbreaking work, from grassroots talent programmes to pioneering club models and leaders opening new pathways for women in sport.
2025 WINNERS
WFS Honour for Growth & Expansion presented by Misk City
Winner: Mahd Academy
Mahd Academy is the Kingdom’s largest national project for identifying and developing sports talent. The academy is recognised for systematising talent discovery across the country, building a sustainable, data-driven pathway from grassroots to elite level that prepares the champions who will represent the Kingdom at the 2034 FIFA World Cup.
WFS Honour for Technology and Innovation presented by N3XT Sports
Winner: Team Saudi
Team Saudi, the Kingdom’s Olympic and Paralympic programme, is celebrated for integrating cutting-edge performance technologies and digital tools to modernise the athlete pathway, placing data and innovation at the heart of Saudi Arabia’s sporting evolution and preparing athletes to compete at the highest international level.
WFS Honour for Brand & Fan Strategy presented by Copa90
Winner: Al Albalad FC
Born from Jeddah’s historic UNESCO World Heritage district, Al Albalad FC is a community-first project built on local identity—drawing strength from youth who played their first matches in the courtyards of old Jeddah. The club is recognised for balancing rich cultural heritage with modern football ambition, creating an authentic brand strategy that unites generations and resonates deeply with the community.
WFS Female Leader Honour presented by the British Embassy in Saudi Arabia
Winner: Lina Al Maeena
In 2003, Lina Al Maeena founded Jeddah United, Saudi Arabia’s first private female basketball club, becoming the first Saudi woman to establish a private sports enterprise at a time when women’s sports faced significant barriers. She is honoured for her grassroots advocacy and continued leadership in championing gender equality and sports development in Saudi Arabia.
WFS Honour for Leadership, Impact & Legacy presented by Koora Break
Winner: Ben Harburg
Ben Harburg is the owner of Al-Kholood Club, the first Saudi club acquired by foreign investors following the Kingdom’s privatisation programme in July 2025. He is honoured for demonstrating strategic leadership in football investment that drives long-term structural change, connecting capital with sustainable club development and creating measurable value for local communities.
Special Honour for Breakthrough Sports Institution presented by Arena E+V
Winner: AlUla Sports Club
With roots dating back to 1981, AlUla Sports Club spent decades in the lower tiers before joining the Royal Commission for AlUla in June 2023 as part of Vision 2030. The club is recognised for remarkable swift progress: winning the Saudi Third Division title in March 2024 and reaching the First Division League while successfully professionalising its infrastructure and incorporating destination branding into their strategy.
The WFS Riyadh Honours 2025 will be presented during a ceremony taking place on 10 December at 8:00 PM at the Residence of the Ambassador of Brazil in Riyadh, on the evening of the first day of WFS Riyadh 2025.
Jan Alessie, Co-Founder & Managing Director of WFS, said:
“The quality of this year’s winners reflects the extraordinary work happening across Saudi Arabia and the wider region. From grassroots talent development to pioneering club models and leadership that’s opening new pathways for women in sport—these are the organisations and individuals turning ambition into measurable impact. It’s a privilege to recognise their contributions.”