The Saudi Pro League (SPL) has launched Yalla SPL, an English-language show on YouTube, in partnership with Footballco.
Aiming to appeal to Gen-Z audiences, the show will feature goals, moments and stories from Saudi Arabia’s premier football league.
Presented by the Barra Bruvvas, two football content creators from London of Middle Eastern heritage, Yalla SPL will be published on GOAL’s YouTube Channel, which is owned and operated by Footballco.
Mohammed Basrawi, General Manager of MARCOM for the SPL, commented: “The SPL continues to grow globally, attracting some of the world’s top football talent and a rapidly expanding international fanbase. Through our partnership with Footballco, Yalla SPL will provide an engaging new way for fans to connect with the league, its players, and its biggest moments.
“This show aligns with our commitment to making the SPL more accessible than ever to audiences worldwide, and we look forward to seeing it bring the excitement of Saudi football to new and existing fans across the globe.”
In addition to goals and highlights, the show will look to incorporate stories of past and present SPL players, as well as fun game segments and features “where the hosts will help fans pick an SPL team to support”.
Andy Jackson, SVP of the Middle East at Foootballco, stated: “The SPL is the fastest growing league globally on GOAL with over 44 million people reading content on the league on GOAL’s website in the last 12 months.
“We can’t wait to use our experience and insights to create a show that young fans in English-speaking markets will love. They’ll get to see and hear about some of the world’s best players and homegrown stars lighting up the SPL.”
Saudi football has consistently improved in all aspects in recent years, attracting football icons such as Karim Benzema, Cristiano Ronaldo and Sadio Mane. While the sport is not as established in other countries, sponsors and partners are entering the market to benefit from the boom such as Stats Perform.
Footballco is one of the latest companies to enter the Middle East, with its portfolio including the largest digital sports publisher in the Middle East, Kooora, and youth-focused shows Yalla GOAL and Yalla Girl.
Jackson concluded: “While we’ve seen great success from our entertainment-first shows like GOAL’s Front Three, which don’t carry match footage, we’re looking forward to using our partnership with the SPL to bring the best on-pitch content to fans as well.”
