Sources tell Asharq Al-Awsat: Abdullah Hammad prepares his list to run for presidency of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation

Informed sources revealed to Asharq Al-Awsat that Abdullah bin Faisal Hammad, CEO of Mahd Sports Academy and current member of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation's Board of Directors (since May 2022), has begun preparing his file and election slate ahead of running for the presidency of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation, pending the green light to officially announce his candidacy once nominations open.

Asharq Al-Awsat had earlier revealed on Tuesday that Badr Al-Razeeza is also considering running for the presidency, signaling an anticipated competition for the federation's leadership in the coming period, as the sports community awaits the announcement of names that will officially enter the race once nominations open.

According to sources, Hammad is currently working on finalizing a list that includes a number of names with sports, administrative, and investment expertise, in preparation for entering the electoral race that is expected to begin after the election timeline is approved.

The sources added that the name of Waleed Muadh, CEO of AlUla Club, stands out as a candidate to join Hammad's list, as his name is being circulated to take over as Secretary-General of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation if the list is formed. Muadh is considered one of the administrative competencies in the Saudi sports scene, having worked for years at Al-Ahli Club and held several executive and administrative positions during his career.

The sources confirmed that Abdullah Hammad's name has been put forward as one of the most prominent potential candidates for the presidency of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation since February 2024, following the Saudi national team's exit from the 2023 Asian Cup, before his name resurfaced strongly in recent weeks as the early election date approaches.

The sources added: 'Hammad's name is not unfamiliar in terms of candidacy, as his name has been circulating in sports circles for more than two years.'

Hammad currently holds the position of CEO and Secretary-General of the Board of Directors of Mahd Sports Academy, and is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation since May 2022, having been part of the work system within the federation over the past four years.

Hammad has multiple field and administrative experiences, holding a Bachelor's degree in Training Management from the University of Céram Supérieure in France, and a Master's degree in Sports from the Johan Cruyff Institute in the Netherlands, in addition to obtaining all European coaching licenses and a diploma in technical development from the German Football Association.

Hammad has also previously worked as part of the talent scouting team at Ajax Academy in the Netherlands, as an assistant coach for youth teams at I.G.F. in Denmark, and as head coach of the youth team at Düsseldorf in Germany, in addition to overseeing the talent center at Aspire Academy in Qatar, before moving to executive work in Saudi sports.

This comes at a time when the elections for the Saudi Arabian Football Federation enter a critical phase, as the Extraordinary General Assembly meets on Wednesday to vote on proposed amendments to the bylaws and election regulations, ahead of the start of official procedures for electing a new Board of Directors.

It is expected that the current federation president, Yasser Al-Mishal, will announce during the General Assembly proceedings the advancement of the election date, and will continue to manage the federation's affairs until handing over to the elected council, which is supposed to take place by early September at the latest.