Saudi Arabia has been a hot topic in the footy world the last several years. Big name signings. Premier League team ownership. World Cup 2034 hosting. But what is the football scene in Saudi Arabia actually like? In this episode, Colin sits down with Lee Galvin of Matchstay, who traveled to Jeddah and Riyadh to experience the Saudi Pro League for himself. From the myths and misconceptions to the world-class players, matchday vibes, and the impact of a no-alcohol culture, Lee shares how it compares to Europe—and why more fans might want to see it for themselves.

Foot(y)notes:

• Saudi Arabia’s World Cup 2034 promotional website: https://saudi2034.com.sa/
  
  
• Get a more Saudi perspective on the Saudi Pro League with the recent Netflix series: https://www.netflix.com/title/81783473
  
  
• …or just watch the trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ivIYBD4tfQ
  
  
• Despite no alcohol, Saudi fans can still get rowdy and aggressive—Saudi style! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4K0z23ppOkE
  
  
• More info on the Saudi university program Lee mentioned: https://www.universityworldnews.com/post.php?story=20151208190817896

04:37 | The inspiration (and price) for a trip to Saudi

07:48 | Saudi geography and Pro League teams

11:01 | Saudi stadiums and matchday atmosphere

16:06 | The alcohol myth busted

19:11 | Getting to the game and navigating around Saudi Arabian cities

25:57 | The hardest thing to deal with as a Westerner

32:35 | Out of grounds options in Saudi Arabia

38:42 | How to get tickets tothe Saudi Pro League

41:50 | Lee's other international footy travels

What if you built your own global football education—by leaving home, traveling across multiple continents, and going straight to the source? That's exactly what fellow footy traveler Andrew Baggaley, founder of Because Football Media did, as he spent more than a year exploring the globe, visiting football clubs, academies, and fan groups across Africa, Asia, South America, and Europe. Whether you're a traditional Premier League fan, a lover of fan culture, or curious about how the global game shapes lives off the pitch, this episode is for you.

03:55 | Prototyping Because Football in Paris at PSG

07:26 | Heading to Ivory Coast for AFCON

10:32 | Connecting with Independiente, River Plate, & Racing Club

15:44 | Why Port Vale? And... who...is Port Vale exactly?

17:48 | Eastern Europe on the way to the Far East

20:23 | Comparing footy cultures across Southeast Asia

25:33 | What the world taught Andrew about American soccer

32:27 | The first ever soccer game in the US

35:49 | Coming Soon: The "Road Trip to the World Cup" Series

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On September 11, 2001, American journalist and fellow footy traveler Ken McDonald was thousands of miles from home—at Anfield, watching Liverpool play Boa Vista in the Champions League. In this powerful conversation, Ken shares what it was like to learn about the 9/11 attacks while abroad, how Scousers responded, and the story behind an unforgettable, homemade tifo that made the highlight reels that night. He also reflects on what truly makes footy traveling so meaningful—and spoiler: it’s not what you think.

00:29 | Ken's notable background

03:28 | Liverpool vs Boa Vista in the Champions League

07:57 | "The Kop stands with our friends in America"

15:49 | Flying back to America

20:05 | Why Ken doesn't process 9/11 like most Americans

24:17 | Traveling thousands of miles for 2 hours of sport? Worth it!

26:06 | Ken's sales pitch for lower league football

31:37 | Footy scran

Check out our new YouTube channel!

Don't miss our monthly newsletter for footy // travel news from every corner of the globe

Follow us on Instagram: @footytravelers

Join us on one of our trips (our next one is to Mexico City)!