NEOM Hosts AFC Champions League Elite Trophy Tour Ahead of Jeddah Final

Photography: Courtesy of SPA

NEOM, April 28, 2025 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) — NEOM welcomed the official AFC Champions League Elite tournament trophy today for a special tour across its expansive communities and initiatives, as the countdown continues toward the highly anticipated final match, set to take place in Jeddah on Saturday, May 3.

As the Presenting Partner of the tournament’s quarterfinals and final, NEOM organized a distinguished journey for the trophy, traversing key locations across its 26,500-square-kilometer landscape. The tour showcased iconic sites including the snow-capped slopes of Trojena, the shores of the Adventure Sports Hub, and the natural beauty of the NEOM Nature Region.

According to a press release issued by NEOM, each stop along the trophy’s journey underscored NEOM’s growing role in uniting communities, shaping future lifestyles, and driving a dynamic and thriving economy. Accompanied by NEOM Sports Club ambassador Mohammed Al Burayk, the tour illustrated the diverse range of sports forming the core of NEOM’s sporting ambitions, from football and skiing to kitesurfing and more.

Jan Paterson, Managing Director of NEOM Sport, stated:

"Hosting the AFC Champions League Elite trophy at NEOM is about much more than the game. It is a moment that connects our people and our regions to one of Asia’s top sporting stages, reflecting how sport is an integral part of the fabric of NEOM."

The release further highlighted NEOM’s strategic partnership with the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), which has supported initiatives such as the Shuhub Community Youth Football Program. The program has engaged more than 10,000 young participants across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. As part of this collaboration, NEOM has provided local boys and girls with unique opportunities to participate in AFC matches as player mascots, center circle children, and, for the first time, trophy handover participants during the AFC Champions League 2023/24 Final.

The AFC Champions League Elite Final promises to be a landmark event, reaffirming Saudi Arabia’s status as a premier destination for international sporting events and demonstrating the Kingdom’s ongoing commitment to achieving the goals of Vision 2030.