180 Countries Gain Access to Saudi Football

The Roshn Saudi League has secured broadcast coverage in 180 countries for the 2025 season, a landmark step in Saudi Sports Media Expansion. Through ESPN, Fox Sports, DAZN, and YouTube, the league will now reach audiences across North America, Europe, Asia, and beyond. This global footprint signals a decisive shift from regional visibility to worldwide recognition, positioning Saudi football alongside some of the most widely distributed leagues in the world.

Multi-Platform Strategy Powers Expansion

The Saudi Sports Media Expansion is built on a multi-platform model. ESPN and Fox Sports will deliver matches across the U.S. and Latin America, DAZN will serve digital-first audiences in Europe and Asia, and YouTube will provide free-to-access coverage globally. This approach ensures both premium subscribers and casual fans can engage, while also appealing to younger viewers who consume sports primarily online.

By diversifying distribution channels, the league is not only maximizing reach but also future-proofing its media presence. Traditional broadcasters bring credibility and established audiences, while digital platforms ensure accessibility and engagement in emerging markets.

Star Power and Audience Growth

The league’s global appeal is amplified by the presence of international stars such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, and Neymar Jr. Their signings have already drawn significant attention, with Ronaldo’s debut in early 2023 generating over 3 billion social media impressions in one week (Nielsen Sports).

This combination of star power and expanded broadcast reach is central to the Saudi Sports Media Expansion. Fans who once followed these players in Europe’s top leagues now have a reason to tune into Saudi football, creating a ripple effect of new audiences across continents.

Alignment with Vision 2030

The Saudi Sports Media Expansion is not only about football—it is part of Saudi Arabia’s broader Vision 2030 strategy. By investing in sports and entertainment, the Kingdom aims to diversify its economy and strengthen its global image. Broadcasting the Roshn Saudi League to 180 countries aligns with this vision, positioning Saudi Arabia as a rising hub for international sports.

The government’s backing of sports initiatives underscores the importance of football as both a cultural export and a diplomatic tool. By showcasing the league on global platforms, Saudi Arabia is using sport as a bridge to connect with international audiences.

Commercial and Cultural Impact

The expansion is expected to unlock new sponsorship opportunities and increase the league’s commercial value. Global brands are more likely to invest when they know their partnerships will be visible in multiple markets. At the same time, the cultural impact is significant: Saudi football is no longer a niche product but a mainstream global spectacle.

For domestic fans, the Saudi Sports Media Expansion also brings pride and validation. Seeing their league broadcast alongside global giants reinforces the sense that Saudi Arabia is becoming a serious player in the world of sport.

Outlook: From Regional League to Global Player

With coverage now spanning nearly every continent, the Roshn Saudi League has transformed from a regional competition into a global product. The Saudi Sports Media Expansion is expected to increase sponsorship opportunities, attract new audiences, and elevate Saudi Arabia’s role in the global sports economy.

If the momentum continues, Saudi Arabia could establish itself as one of the most prominent players in international football broadcasting within the next decade. The expansion is not just about visibility—it is about reshaping the Kingdom’s place in the global entertainment economy.

Also Read: Saudi Pro League: 150% Attendance Growth Sparks Future

$37.8 billion strategy to build a Saudi Arabia esports hub

Saudi Arabia has mapped a concrete, capital-backed path to become a global force in gaming and esports. Through Savvy Games Group (SGG), owned by the Public Investment Fund, the Kingdom plans to invest $37.8 billion to scale companies, talent, and infrastructure that position the country as a Saudi Arabia esports hub by 2030.

SAR 142 billion plan: publisher acquisition, stakes, and disruptors

SGG’s plan allocates SAR 50 billion to acquire a leading game publisher as a strategic partner, SAR 70 billion for minority stakes that advance its development agenda, SAR 20 billion for mature industry partners that add expertise, and SAR 2 billion for early-stage “disruptors” in games and esports. This capital stack is designed to accelerate capability-building at home while embedding Saudi Arabia into the global value chain as a credible Saudi Arabia esports hub.

250 companies and 39,000 jobs by 2030 to deepen the hub

By 2030, the strategy targets the creation of 250 gaming companies in Saudi Arabia and 39,000 direct and indirect jobs across development, publishing, services, and esports operations. This jobs-and-firms target is the throughput for a durable ecosystem, not a single bet on marquee events. It reflects SGG’s multi-vehicle approach, including subsidiaries such as EFG (esports), Nine66 (developer ecosystem), and VOV (venues), to harden the Saudi Arabia esports hub with both software and services capacity.

SAR 50 billion GDP target with ecosystem multipliers

The sector’s contribution to GDP is projected to reach SAR 50 billion by 2030 (about $13.3 billion). That figure includes not only core game and esports revenues, but also spillover effects through events, media, venues, and adjacent services—key levers for turning a Saudi Arabia esports hub into a broader creative-economy engine.

Institutional backing signals long horizon for the hub

SGG was established by PIF to drive long-term growth of the global games and esports industry while developing Saudi Arabia into a games and esports hub. The mandate, backed by sovereign capital and global hiring (including leadership with AAA studio experience), signals patient timelines and cross-border ambitions that are essential for a resilient Saudi Arabia esports hub.

From capital to capabilities: how the hub takes shape

• Publisher anchor: Acquiring a top-tier publisher can transfer IP pipelines, production know-how, and distribution reach into the Kingdom, compressing years of capability-building into a single strategic step for the Saudi Arabia esports hub.
• Minority stakes: Targeted stakes align external studios and platforms with SGG’s roadmap without the drag of full integrations, giving the hub flexibility to learn, partner, and scale where impact is clearest.
• Ecosystem scaffolding: EFG, Nine66, and VOV knit together competitive circuits, developer enablement, and physical spaces—three pillars that convert investment into participation and retention for the Saudi Arabia esports hub.

What changes on the ground for players and creators

For local talent, the plan means more studios, training pathways, and events connected to global circuits, with career ladders that didn’t exist at scale a few years ago. For international teams and publishers, Saudi Arabia becomes a strategic node—funded, partnered, and equipped—for co-development, testing, and competition, reinforcing the country’s position as a Saudi Arabia esports hub.

Also Read: Building the Sports Economy in Saudi Arabia: Investment and Growth Trends