Italian soccer maestro Andrea Pirlo teams up with McDelivery

Italian maestro and 2006 FIFA World Cup winner Andrea Pirlo.
Updated 16 June 2018
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Italian soccer maestro Andrea Pirlo teams up with McDelivery

After Italy failed to qualify for the FIFA World Cup for the first time in more than 60 years, Italian maestro and 2006 FIFA World Cup winner Andrea Pirlo has teamed up with McDonald’s McDelivery from Uber Eats to find an alternative nation to support this summer.

McDelivery from Uber Eats has enlisted the support of eight soccer icons from around the globe to help find a #TeamForPirlo, as Pirlo gets ready to enjoy the tournament from the sidelines for the first time in 16 years.

The all-star line-up includes FIFA World Cup winners Cafu (Brazil) and Marcel Desailly (France), alongside international legends Luis Hernandez and Jared Borgetti (Mexico), Harry Kewell (Australia), Rui Patricio (Portugal), Mashahiro Fukuda (Japan) and Alexandre Guimarães (Costa Rica). The players have been pitching for Pirlo’s support for their nations as the 2018 FIFA World Cup group games kicked off in Russia.

The #TeamForPirlo search got off to the worst possible start when Andrea stormed off set when asked by a hapless reporter whether he was looking forward to playing at the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

Pirlo said: “For the first time I can remember, I was not looking forward to the FIFA World Cup this year. I thought ‘No Italy, no party’ but there is still a summer full of football for me to enjoy as a fan at home with McDelivery from Uber Eats.

“Without Italy at the tournament, I need a new team to support and I’m looking forward to meeting with some of the most respected footballers in history to help me make a decision!”

McDonald’s, an official FIFA World Cup sponsor, has partnered with Uber Eats to offer McDelivery in 26 countries for the first time ever during a FIFA World Cup. 

“While we’re all disappointed Italy didn’t qualify this year, we’re pleased we can not only help make Andrea’s FIFA World Cup more enjoyable with McDelivery from Uber Eats, but also help him find a team to support,” said Liz Meyerdirk, head of partnerships, Uber Eats.


German Minister of Economy and Energy visits Juffali Industrial Business Park in KAEC

Updated 09 February 2026
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German Minister of Economy and Energy visits Juffali Industrial Business Park in KAEC

Juffali recently welcomed German Federal Minister of Economy and Energy Katherina Reiche, during an official visit to the Juffali Industrial Business Park in King Abdullah Economic City, in the presence of Khaled Juffali, chairman of Juffali, and senior executives. The visit, on Feb. 2, marks a significant milestone in strengthening Saudi–German industrial cooperation.

Covering a total land area of 400,000 square meters, the business park serves as a strategic platform for advanced manufacturing and industrial localization in the Kingdom. The visit highlighted key joint industrial projects developed in collaboration with leading global partners, reflecting a shared commitment to long-term investment, technology transfer, and local value creation.

The official program included welcoming remarks and ceremonial milestones, during which Liebherr laid the foundation stone for its factory, while Juffali Industrial Products Company and National Automobile Industry placed the cornerstone for their manufacturing facility, symbolizing the advancement of two flagship industrial projects within the business park.

The Juffali Industrial Products Company and National Automobile Industry facility will have an annual production capacity of 6,000 trucks, while Liebherr’s plant is designed to produce up to 1,000 concrete mixers annually. Both facilities will operate with 100 percent local assembly and manufacturing in Saudi Arabia, reinforcing the Kingdom’s localization agenda and supporting the development of national industrial capabilities.

These projects represent a significant addition to Saudi Arabia’s industrial ecosystem and align closely with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030, supporting sustainable industrial growth, job creation, and high-value manufacturing.

Khaled Juffali reaffirmed Juffali’s commitment to expanding international partnerships and contributing to the Kingdom’s economic diversification through long-term industrial collaboration with leading global partners, further strengthening KAEC’s position as a regional hub for advanced manufacturing.