Saudi hospital staff win trip to FIFA World Cup

With people all over the Kingdom looking forward to the FIFA World Cup opening on June 14, when Saudi Arabia plays host Russia, the King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center (KFSHRC) in Riyadh launched a sports tourism program to help staff watch the live matches.

RIYADH: The Saudi national football team, the Green Falcons, play against the host country in the opening match of the FIFA World Cup 2018 — a tantalizing clash, with the match being seen by many as a big honor to kick off the world’s most-watched sporting event.

The KFSHRC launched the sports tourism program for their Saudi staff members to take part in the mega-event by traveling to the host country.

Dr. Majid Al Fayyadh, CEO of the KFSHRC, announced a free package containing return flights, accommodation and tickets for the matches to be played by the Green Falcons, for eight employees, who were selected through an electronic draw.

More than 400 employees took part in the contest. 

“In the past six months, Saudi Arabia ranks second globally in the number of tweets about the World Cup, with Japan in first place and Brazil in third,” Benjamin Ampen, managing director for the Middle East and North Africa at Twitter, told Arab News. 

With people all over the Kingdom looking forward to the World Cup, coffee shops and restaurants are gearing up to host more customers.

Special arrangements have been made by a number of local cafes and restaurants that will air the matches live for customers. Abdullah Alotaibi, a football fan at a local cafe, told Arab News: “Watching matches live with friends makes it more exciting, and filled with patriotic fervor.”

FIFA 2018 will be the fifth appearance for Saudi Arabia in the World Cup finals after qualifying for the first time in 1994.

Egypt, Tunisia and Morocco have also secured their places in the competition.