Al Nasr’s esports division has partnered with Italian esports organisation Mkers.

As part of the deal, the Saudi club has signed Portuguese EA FC player João Afonso “Jafonso” Vasconcelos to prepare them for tournament play. Jafonso, who won the 2024 World Cup, made his debut for Al Nasr on November 25 at the FC PRO qualifier in London.

Guido Fienga, CEO of Al Nassr, commented: “It is an important step to continue the development of Al Nassr in a new field of play that is very popular with our fans. Excellence and innovation are at the heart of our strategy and with Mkers and Jafonso we aspire to be a winning team in major international competitions right away.”

Mkers will oversee the team’s technical and competitive management, as well as bring in commercial and strategic expertise. For example, a marketing tool to maximise the esports division’s impact.

Luca Beccaceci, CEO of Mkers, said: “Being chosen by a club like Al Nassr to build an Esports division together is both an honour and a responsibility. This partnership goes beyond mere collaboration; it embodies a shared vision to redefine the competitive gaming industry. We will work together to consolidate this project and establish it as a global benchmark.”

In addition to establishing a link between Al Nasr striker Cristiano Ronaldo and Jafonso, the move builds on Saudi Arabia’s recent efforts to become an esports hub.

This year, over $500 million has been invested in Saudi Arabia’s esports sector. The most notable initiative was the inaugural Esports World Championship, which had a £47 million prize pool, making it the largest in the industry’s history.

The success of the event suggests that it will continue to expand. Three cities have already been announced for next year’s event, and this year, players were able to compete in 22 games.

Saudi Arabia’s success in conquering the industry was recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in July, when talks were announced for the Kingdom to host the first ever Olympic esports games.

Saudi Arabia has improved various aspects of esports, such as broadcasting, coverage and prize pools. However, as with other sports, some concerns have been raised about the country’s human rights record.

Saudi Arabia’s influence on sports, including football and boxing, has been the subject of much debate among supporters, many of whom believe that while the investment improves the sport commercially, it takes away from tradition.

Boxing has potentially been the biggest loser from Saudi investment. General Entertainment Authority (GEA) Chairman Turki Alalshih has become the face of the sport in recent years, thanks to his ability to unite rival promoters and stage some of the most competitive fights in recent history. Notably, Alalshih acquired the historic Ring Magazine in early November.

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