The king even declared a national holiday. This Tuesday, Saudi Arabia beat Argentina in the soccer World Cup and, who lives in Saudi territory, says that the population was ecstatic with the victory over Messi and company.
Susana Carvalho is a researcher at the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) and is currently participating in a project in the Red Sea. That was where she watched the game.
“During the extra time given by the referee, the offices stopped and were on edge until the final whistle. In the end it was a joint celebration and I think it was very nice to see expats here in Saudi Arabia celebrating in the same way. and with equal enthusiasm the victory over Argentina”, describes the Portuguese.
One of Susana’s children was born in Saudi Arabia: “It’s fun to see our children, some of them who were born here, together with their Saudi companions and vibrating as much as they do.”
On the streets, the Portuguese does not have a perfect idea of how it is celebrated in big cities, such as Jeddah or Riyadh.
“I live in very small places, so I don’t have access to what was, for example, in a city like Jeddah. But in our small places it was seen with great enthusiasm and with flags and with the celebration of an unexpected victory. Nobody was expecting Saudi Arabia to beat Argentina”, says Susana Carvalho.
Facing the future in the competition, there are already those who dream very high: “My Saudi teammates are already thinking about victory. But it is in a very relaxed way and that Saudi Arabia has its limitations, but it is a people with many faith “.
King Salman of Saudi Arabia announced, according to Arab News, that this Wednesday will be declared a national holiday after the surprise victory of the Saudis against Argentina, 1-2, in a match qualifying for the 2022 World Cup in Russia.
The suggestion was made, according to the Arab newspaper, by the country’s crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, and later approved by the King. All employees, from the public and private sectors, as well as students, will have the right to enjoy the holiday.
Women also play football in Saudi Arabia
This year the women’s soccer league was created and Susana Carvalho says that this is one of the signs that Saudi Arabia is opening up to the world.
“They are changing a lot and it is interesting to see these changes. It is true that there are still many, many things, they are very different from our culture. In Saudi Arabia, in a very short time, women began to have access. to higher education, to be able to drive, actually having this opportunity to play in an official Saudi soccer league”, justifies the researcher.
Susana Carvalho reveals that “there are already many clubs playing” and believes that “things are going to change a lot in the coming years”, also because of “the opening that is being given to tourism and with the projects that are being developed”.
Source: TSF
