Faris Abdi

Faris Abdi (Arabic: فارس عابدي‎; born May 9, 1999), is a Saudi Arabian international footballer who plays for Al-Wehda and the Saudi Arabia national team.

Faris Abdi

Personal information
Date of birth	(1999-05-09) May 9, 1999
Place of birth	San Diego, California, United States
Height	1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Playing position(s)	Midfielder/Left-Back
Club information
Current team	Al-Wehda
Number	22
Youth career
2013–2017	IMG Academy
2018	Lausanne-Sport
College career
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2017	Virginia Cavaliers	11	(1)
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2018	Team Vaud M-21	3	(0)
2019	Austin Bold	9	(1)
2020–	Al-Wehda	2	(0)
National team^‡
2017	United States U18	2	(2)
2017–	Saudi Arabia U23	1	(0)
2017–	Saudi Arabia	1	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 13 June 2020 ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 12 November 2017

Early life

Faris Abdi was born on May 9, 1999, in San Diego, California and is the son of Rifat Abdi and Soulafa Al Nassar.[1] Abdi was raised in Dhahran, Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia. In an interview with Al Arabia Abdi stated "I grew up in Dhahran loving sports especially soccer and basketball, at first I began playing as a goalkeeper then as a midfielder".[2] one of Al Nahda officials stated in an interview with Rotana that Abdi played basketball at the club saying "he (Abdi) came in a very young age to play basketball, he showed us a very good talent and was such a smart player". Abdi went back to the United States at the age of 14 in 2013 to study high school at IMG Academy and there he continued to play soccer.[2] In his last year at IMG Academy as a senior in high school, during the annual end of the year banquet, Abdi won the award of the MVP of his team and best attacking player at IMG. Abdi has two brothers Fayik and Tarik.[1]

International career

Having scored two goals in two games for the United States under-18 side in June 2017, Abdi was called up to the Saudi Arabian national team side for friendlies against Jamaica and Ghana in late 2017.[3] He made his debut against Jamaica, coming on as a 71st minute substitute for Salem Al-Dawsari.[4]

Career statistics

Club

As of 13 June 2020.[5]

Club	Season	League			Cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Team Vaud M-21	2017–18	Swiss 1. Liga	3	0	0	0	0	0	3	0
Austin Bold	2019	USL Championship	7	1	2[lower-alpha 1]	0	0	0	9	1
Al-Wehda	2019–20	Saudi Professional League	2	0	0	0	0	0	2	0
Career total			12	1	2	0	0	0	14	1

Notes

1. Appearances in the U.S. Open Cup

International

As of matches played 20 March 2019.[6]

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Saudi Arabia	2017	1	0
Total		1	0

References

1. "Faris Abdi Bio - VirginiaSports.com - University of Virginia Official Athletics Website - UVA Cavaliers Men's Soccer". Retrieved 2017-11-02.
2. قناة مزاج الرياضية (2017-10-04), لقاء مع فارس عابدي لاعب المنتخب السعودي القادم من امريكا, retrieved 2017-11-02
3. "Profile". Virginia Sports. 6 October 2017. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
4. "Saudi Arabia 5-2 Jamaica". worldfootball.com. 7 October 2017. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
5. Faris Abdi at Soccerway
6. Faris Abdi at National-Football-Teams.com

External links

• Faris Abdi at the IMG Academy