Andorran Coach Reports Calm in Saudi Arabia Amid Middle East Tensions

Jordi Escura, a former Andorran international footballer and current assistant coach for Saudi Arabia's women's national team, reports that daily life remains normal in the country amid escalating Middle East tensions.

Escura, based in Dammam near the Bahrain border, described the situation as calm during a phone interview. The team has been in camp for a week and played a friendly match in Bahrain four days ago without incident. They were due to play another friendly the following day.

"Everything is fine," Escura said. "We're not in Riyadh but in Dammam. For now, everything is quiet." He noted that Saudi Arabia's Interior Ministry has confirmed life continues as usual domestically, with internal flights operating normally and no restrictions imposed so far. The group is monitoring developments closely.

International flights present challenges, however. Travel to Dubai or the United Arab Emirates—common routes back to Europe—has become difficult.

Escura joked about his knack for landing in conflict zones. He contracted Covid-19 while heading medical services for China's Qingdao Huanghai in the Super League. Later, as fitness coach for Ukraine's national team under Lluís Cortés, he was in Kyiv when Russia launched its invasion. Now in Saudi Arabia, he quipped that they are "somewhat jinxed" but remain in good shape for the moment.