WWE superstars meet Saudi’s Al-Nassr players before Riyadh Super ShowDown

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WWE stars mixed with players from Al-Nassr. (Mark Conlon/Seven Media)
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WWE superstar Ricochet. (Mark Conlon/Seven Media)
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Superstar Mansoor with Tag Team champions The New Day at Riyadh. (Mark Conlon/Seven Media)
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Naomi gets ready to rumble in the Super ShowDown ring. (Mark Conlon/Seven Media)
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Bayley - you wouldn't want to mess - will be defending her title. (Mark Conlon/Seven Media)
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Updated 27 February 2020
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WWE superstars meet Saudi’s Al-Nassr players before Riyadh Super ShowDown

  • The Super ShowDown at Riyadh will take place on Thursday
  • Superstar wrestlers spent the day rubbing shoulders with Al-Nassr football stars

The WWE superstars spent the last 24 hours before tonight’s Super ShowDown engaging with members of the press, meeting members Saudi National League football champions Al-Nassr and visiting The Boulevard in Riyadh.

 The highly anticipated showdown takes place tonight at Mohammed Abdu Arena on the Boulevard, the third WWE event hosted in the Kingdom in just over a year, following the Super ShowDown in Jeddah last February and crown Jewels in Riyadh in October.

Having delighted members of the local and international press by joking and taking selfies with them at media event earlier in the day, the likes of Goldberg, Ricochet, The Miz and John Morrison, Naomi and Bayley, and local hero Mansoor spent the afternoon exploring the city, and meeting fans, in the afternoon and early evening.




The Miz and John Morrison in their non-ring attire. (Mark Conlon/Seven Media)

Robert Roode, Andrade and Angel Garza, along with Faisal Kurdi and Hussain Aldaqal, two rising Saudi stars from the WWE Performance Centre, headed to Al-Nassr’s training ground to meet the players, management and senior figures, before taking part in keepy-uppy sessions and a penalty shoot-out.

Before the WWE superstars departed, they presented Al-Nassr, who claimed the Saudi title last season, with a WWE championship belt.

Meanwhile, some of the WWE superstars headed to The Boulevard in Riyadh where they posed for iconic images as they prepare to perform at Super ShowDown in KSA on Thursday night.




Tag-team The New Day were joined by Saudi star Mansoor. (Mark Conlon/Seven Media)

Tag-team The New Day were joined by Saudi star Mansoor at one of Riyadh's most famous locations, and the venue for tonight's event, which takes place at the Mohammed Abdu Arena.

The New Day will be taking on The Miz and John Morrison in one of many exciting encounters taking place tonight.

Also on the card is Ricochet taking on WWE legend and champion Brock Lesnar for the championship belt; Bayley defending g her title against Naomi in the SmackDown Championship; and Goldberg taking on “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt in the Universal Championship Match.


Iraq’s hopes of qualifying for first World Cup finals in 40 years under threat amid regional conflict

Updated 05 March 2026
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Iraq’s hopes of qualifying for first World Cup finals in 40 years under threat amid regional conflict

  • National team head coach Graham Arnold unable to leave the UAE as a result of airspace closures arising from US-Israeli war against Iran
  • With many embassies across the region closed as a result of the conflict, players and support staff fear they will be unable to obtain visas they need to travel abroad for games

BEIRUT: Iraq’s hopes of qualifying for the FIFA World Cup finals for the first time in 40 years are threatened by the US-Israeli war against Iran.
Iran responded to airstrikes by the US and Israel, which began on Saturday, by launching missiles and drones at a number of Gulf nations, many of which subsequently closed their airspace. Graham Arnold, the head coach of the Iraqi national team, is currently unable to leave the UAE because of this.
In addition, with many countries closing their embassies across the region as a result of the conflict, players and support staff fear they will not be able to obtain the visas they need to travel abroad to play.
Iraq are due to play Bolivia or Suriname in the Mexican city of Monterrey on Mar. 31 in a playoff for one of the remaining qualification places for the World Cup, which will be hosted this summer by the US, Mexico and Canada.
In a message posted on social media platform X, the Iraqi team management said discussions with FIFA continue over arrangements for the playoff given recent security developments in the Middle East.
“FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation are fully aware of every development regarding our team’s situation,” it said. “Because of airspace closures, our head coach, Arnold, is unable to leave the UAE.
“In addition, several embassies remain closed at the present time, preventing several professional players, technical and medical staff members from obtaining entry visas to Mexico.
“We assure our loyal supporters that we remain in close contact with both FIFA and the AFC, who are keeping tabs on the situation.”
If Iraq manage to qualify, they would join France, Senegal and Norway in Group I when the competition kicks off in June.