Yasser Al-Misehal re-elected as Saudi football federation president

RIYADH: Yasser Al-Misehal was re-elected on Monday as president of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation for the next four years from 2023 until 2027 at its general assembly, it was announced Monday.

Lamia Bint Bahian was appointed vice president, becoming the first woman to hold the position in the federation’s history.

Al-Misehal, who was first elected in June 2019 and ran unopposed for re-election, thanked members of the GA for renewing their confidence in him.

Al-Misehal, who is also a FIFA council member representing Asia, was in charge of the Saudi national team, which qualified for the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar, where they scored a remarkable win over eventual champions Argentina.

During his tenure, the federation launched its first-ever strategy for football in Saudi Arabia, as well as the opening of local, regionalized offices for the SAFF, making successful bids to host the 2024 FIFA Club World Cup, the 2026 Asian Women’s Cup and the 2027 Asian Cup.

He also played a key role in the founding of the first women’s team representing Saudi Arabia and launching the first-ever Saudi women’s professional league.