Football in Saudi Arabia

Football in Saudi Arabia
Majed Abdullah while winning the 1984 AFC Asian Cup.
CountrySaudi Arabia
Governing bodySAFF
National teamsNational team
Under-23 national team
Under-20 national team
Under-17 national team
Women's national team
Nicknamesالصقور العربية (as-Suqūr Al-'Arabiyyah, "Arabian Falcons")
الصقور الخضر (as-Suqūr al-Khoḍur, "The Green Falcons")
الأخضر (al-'Akhḍar, "The Green")
First played1921
Clubs172
National competitions
Club competitions
International competitions
Audience records
Season2024-25 Saudi Pro League
Uruguay-Saudi Arabia match at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia
Saudi Men's National Team at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. They were the only team to defeat Argentina, that years World Cup champions.

Football is one of the most popular sports in Saudi Arabia. Approximately 50% of the Saudi population is interested in and identify as fans of the sport.[1] Saudi Arabia has been a FIFA member since 1956, after establishing its governing body: the Saudi Arabia Football Federation (SAFF) (Arabic: الاتحاد السعودي لكرة القدم).[2] The SAFF administers the national football teams and the nation's growing club league system.

Saudi Arabia's National Football team first made the 1994 FIFA World Cup, hosted in the United States. Over 30 years later, on December 11, 2024, FIFA announced Saudi Arabia would be the host of the 2034 World Cup.[3] The SAFF prepared the only bid for the tournament's nomination process.

Fandom in Saudi Arabia's league system has increased since the turn of the 21st century. The same period has seen the privatization of once state-owned clubs and the record-breaking signings of international footballers. Both components of Saudi Arabia's sports agenda are national elements in the Saudi Vision 2030 development plan.[4][5]

History

The first recorded history of football in Saudi Arabia comes from 1902. The first club founded in Saudi Arabia was Al-Ittihad (Jeddah) in 1927.[6] Clubs including Al-Ahli (Jeddah), Al-Ettifaq (Dammam), Al-Shabab (Riyadh), Al-Riyadh (Riyadh), Al-Nassr (Riyadh), and Al-Hilal (Riyadh) were all founded between 1927 and 1957.[2] In 1956, Prince Abdullah bin Faisal al Saud founded the Saudi Arabia Football Federation (SAFF, occasionally shorthanded to SFF), as a central governing body for football in the nation.[7] Ending in a 1–1 draw, the national team played its first match on October 20, 1957, against the Syrian National Football Team in Beirut, Lebanon.[8]

National Football Team

The Saudi Arabia National Football Team (Arabic: منتخب السعودية لكرة القدم), is nicknamed as Al-Saqour, which means The Falcons. They are one of the most successful football teams in Asia, winning the Asian Championship three times and qualified to the World Cup six times (1994, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2018, and 2022). On October 15, 2025, the team qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, their seventh tournament berth.[9] As of 21 November 2025, Saudi Arabia is placed 60th in the FIFA World Rankings.[10]

Rivalries

Saudi Arabia has a major rivalry with Iran in football.[11][12] In the past few decades, Saudi Arabia has also developed rivalries with Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), two countries in what has been called the "football triangle" of the Middle East.[11] Also, the rivalry between Saudi Arabia and Iraq has recently been re-established, as in 2018 the Falcons traveled to Basra, Iraq to play a club team in a friendly. Weeks later, FIFA, in-part convinced by the SAFF, allowed Iraq to host international matches for the first time since 1990.[13][14]

League

The Saudi Pro League is the highest level of competition in the country. until the 1970s, football was organized on a regional basis across Saudi Arabia.[15]

In the 1976 Saudi Professional League season, with the improvement of transportation links and local football, the league was launched on a national basis. Eight clubs participated in the first season of the tournament.[citation needed]

In 1981, a decision was made by the Saudi Arabia Football Federation to increase the number of clubs to 18 clubs, 8 of which take part in the first league, with the other 10 competing in the second league.[citation needed]

In the 1985 season, the number of clubs in the first league was increased to 12.[citation needed]

In 1990, a league cup was introduced, known as The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques League Cup. It was a two-stage competition, a round-robin and knockout phase. The top four teams (known as the Golden Square) from the round-robin moved to the knock-out phase to compete for the final championship.[citation needed]

In the 2007–08 season, The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Champions Cup was introduced for the more elite teams to compete for. Eight teams participate, including the top six teams of the first league, the winner of the Crown Prince Cup, and the Prince Faisal Cup.[citation needed]

The current Saudi Pro League (SPL) was formally organized in 2008. As of 2025, there are 18 teams that compete in Saudi Arabia's top league.[16] Comparisons have been made between SPL and the United States' Major League Soccer (MLS) and China's Chinese Super League (CSL), as they gained popularity and secured investments in the same time period.[17]

Main article: Exodus of footballers to Saudi Arabia

Since 2023, the league started growing through the investment of the Public Investment Fund, mainly in association football.[18] World famous football players like Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema joined the top-flight football league of Saudi Arabia with the help of the Public Investment Fund. Cristiano Ronaldo made an immediate impact on the global following of his club Al-Nassr.

The 2024–25 season broke the Saudi Pro League's attendance record with over 2.5 million fans attending 306 matches.[19]

Saudi Vision 2030

Main article: Saudi Vision 2030

In 2016, Saudi Arabia unveiled their future structural development plan, Saudi Vision 2030. The plan's goals are to uncouple state-wealth from non-renewable fuel exports and promote private strategic investment in the state.[20] The government of Saudi Arabia is interested in societal change. One of the ways to get there, according to them, is strategically investing in sport.[21] In 2023, it was announced that there would be US$2 billion invested over five years solely for sports related ventures.[22] In November 2016, the government of Saudi Arabia approved plans to turn state-owned sports clubs into private companies.[23] Some have made the comparison between Saudi Arabia's government and the governments of former World Cup hosts South Korea (2002) and Qatar (2022). The two nations invested heavily in sport prior to hosting the tournament. Saudi Arabia will host the World Cup in 2034.[24] With the investment and improvement of football for Saudi Arabia's main rivals, the UAE and Qatar, arguments have been made that this investment is a push to get even with other Middle East football powerhouses.[25]

Events hosted

National team

Main article: Saudi Arabia national football team

Achievements

Leagues of Saudi Arabia

As of 2025

Leagues – Men
Leagues – Youth
  • Youth – Premier Division League U-19
  • Youth – First Division League U-19
  • Youngster – Premier Division League U-17
  • Youngster – First Division League U-17
  • Youngster – Premier Division League U-15
  • Youngster – First Division League U-15
  • Youngster – Premier Division League U-13
  • Youngster – First Division League U-13
Leagues – Women
Cups – Men
Cups – Women
Other - Men
Other - Women

List of the men Top League champions

No Season Champion Runners up
Saudi Categorization League
C 1974–75 Al-Nassr Al-Hilal
Saudi Premier League
– 1975–76 Canceled
1 1976–77 Al-Hilal Al-Nassr
2 1977–78 Al-Ahli Al-Nassr
3 1978–79 Al-Hilal Al-Nassr
4 1979–80 Al-Nassr Al-Hilal
5 1980–81 Al-Nassr Al-Hilal
6 1981–82 Al-Ittihad Al-Shabab
7 1982–83 Al-Ettifaq Al-Hilal
8 1983–84 Al-Ahli Al-Ittihad
9 1984–85 Al-Hilal Al-Shabab
10 1985–86 Al-Hilal Al-Ittihad
11 1986–87 Al-Ettifaq Al-Hilal
12 1987–88 Al-Hilal Al-Ettifaq
13 1988–89 Al-Nassr Al-Shabab
14 1989–90 Al-Hilal Al-Ahli
15 1990–91 Al-Shabab Al-Nassr
16 1991–92 Al-Shabab Al-Ettifaq
17 1992–93 Al-Shabab Al-Hilal
18 1993–94 Al-Nassr Al-Riyadh
19 1994–95 Al-Nassr Al-Hilal
20 1995–96 Al-Hilal Al-Ahli
21 1996–97 Al-Ittihad Al-Hilal
22 1997–98 Al-Hilal Al-Shabab
23 1998–99 Al-Ittihad Al-Ahli
24 1999–00 Al-Ittihad Al-Ahli
25 2000–01 Al-Ittihad Al-Nassr
26 2001–02 Al-Hilal Al-Ittihad
27 2002–03 Al-Ittihad Al-Ahli
28 2003–04 Al-Shabab Al-Ittihad
29 2004–05 Al-Hilal Al-Shabab
30 2005–06 Al-Shabab Al-Hilal
31 2006–07 Al-Ittihad Al-Hilal
32 2007–08 Al-Hilal Al-Ittihad
Saudi Pro League
33 2008–09 Al-Ittihad Al-Hilal
34 2009–10 Al-Hilal Al-Ittihad
35 2010–11 Al-Hilal Al-Ittihad
36 2011–12 Al-Shabab Al-Ahli
37 2012–13 Al-Fateh Al-Hilal
38 2013–14 Al-Nassr Al-Hilal
39 2014–15 Al-Nassr Al-Ahli
40 2015–16 Al-Ahli Al-Hilal
41 2016–17 Al-Hilal Al-Ahli
42 2017–18 Al-Hilal Al-Ahli
43 2018–19 Al-Nassr Al-Hilal
44 2019–20 Al-Hilal Al-Nassr
45 2020–21 Al-Hilal Al-Shabab
46 2021–22 Al-Hilal Al-Ittihad
47 2022–23 Al-Ittihad Al-Nassr
48 2023–24 Al-Hilal Al-Nassr
49 2024–25 Al-Ittihad Al-Hilal

Stadiums

Main article: List of football stadiums in Saudi Arabia

Best Player of Asia award

Main article: Asian Footballer of the Year
Year Player Club
1994 Saeed Al-Owairan Al-Shabab
2000 Nawaf Al-Temyat Al-Hilal
2005 Hamad Al-Montashari Al-Ittihad
2007 Yasser Al-Qahtani Al-Hilal
2014 Nasser Al-Shamrani Al-Hilal
2022 Salem Al-Dawsari Al Hilal

League system

Main article: Saudi football league system

The Saudi Arabia football association football league system is organized in a pyramidal shape similar to football league systems in many other countries. The principle of promotion and relegation binds the leagues.

Women's football

Main article: Women's football in Saudi Arabia

Women's football is played in Saudi Arabia, but only in the affluent areas, as the country's very restrictive laws (especially those concerning women) inhibit the practice of the sport.[26][27] In February 2020, Saudi Arabia launched a football league for women.[28]

Academies

In July 2020, the Saudi ministry of sport announced the establishment of Mahd Sports Academy, a sports academy which aims to scout, help, and train Saudi talent in various sports, including football.[29] Once complete, the academy will be one of the largest in the world.[30] In February 2024, The SAFF announced the accreditation of 33 existing private football academies. SAFF confirms the total number of football academies eligible for competitive play is now over 100.[31]

Attendances

The average attendance per top-flight football league season and the club with the highest average attendance:

Season League average Best club Best club average
2024-25 8,355 Al-Ittihad 34,960
2023-24 8,159 Al-Ahli SFC 24,370
2022-23 9,339 Al-Ittihad 40,453
2021–22 8,176 Al-Ittihad 25,929
2020–21 — — —
2019–20 8,479 Al-Hilal 12,549
2018–19 8,361 Al-Ittihad 33,482
2017–18 5,766 Al-Ahli SFC 16,650
2016–17 7,053 Al-Ittihad 25,407
2015–16 6,893 Al-Ahli SFC 27,716
2014–15 9,676 Al-Ittihad 42,371

Sources: League pages on Wikipedia

See also

References

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  2. ^ a b "The long history of The Beautiful Game in Saudi Arabia". Arab News. 22 September 2024. Retrieved 12 November 2025.
  3. ^ Buckingham, Philip (12 December 2024). "Saudi Arabia World Cup 2034 explained: Why the FIFA vote is already a done deal". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 5 December 2025.
  4. ^ "Privatization of sports clubs welcomed to bring quality shift in Saudi sports". Arab News. 23 November 2016. Retrieved 5 December 2025.
  5. ^ "Saudi Arabia is trying to disrupt soccer's world order. The reasons why might surprise you". CNN. 20 September 2023. Retrieved 12 November 2025.
  6. ^ Othman H. AlAbdullah, Hassan (5 September 2022). "The association between Saudi football clubs and the loyalty of their fanbase, a cross-sectional study". International Journal of Scientific Research and Management. 10 (9): 3830–3850. doi:10.18535/ijsrm/v10i9.em03. ISSN 2321-3418.
  7. ^ Bataineh, Mohammed Jamal; Guevara-Pérez, Juan Carlos; Martín-Vallespín, Emilio; Urdaneta-Camacho, Rudemarlyn (26 September 2025). "The take-off of the Saudi professional football league in the context of the 2030 vision: effect on the competitive balance". Frontiers in Sports and Active Living. 7 1649310. doi:10.3389/fspor.2025.1649310. ISSN 2624-9367. PMC 12512241. PMID 41078878.
  8. ^ "Saudi Arabia - List of International Matches". www.rsssf.org. Retrieved 3 December 2025.
  9. ^ "Renard returns Saudi Arabia to global finals". www.fifa.com. 15 October 2025. Retrieved 3 December 2025.
  10. ^ "FIFA Men's Top 50 World Rankings: Mid November 2025". ESPN.com. 21 November 2025. Retrieved 5 December 2025.
  11. ^ a b Feizabadi, Mahdi Shariati; Courty, Pascal (18 November 2024), "The geopolitical economy of football in the Middle East", Continental Perspectives on the Geopolitical Economy of Football, London: Routledge, pp. 175–181, doi:10.4324/9781003535690-25, ISBN 978-1-003-53569-0{{citation}}: CS1 maint: work parameter with ISBN (link)
  12. ^ Basravi, Zein. "Iran: Football World Cup, female fans and Saudi Arabia". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 3 December 2025.
  13. ^ "Saudi Arabia: Back to Baghdad". Human Rights Documents Online. doi:10.1163/2210-7975_hrd-9812-20180012.
  14. ^ George, Susannah (21 March 2018). "Iraqi fans celebrate lifting of 3-decade FIFA ban". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 3 December 2025.
  15. ^ Jones, Rory (1 May 2013). "Saudi Arabia Seeks to Upgrade Domestic Professional Soccer". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 18 January 2014.
  16. ^ "About Us | Saudi Pro League". Saudi Professional League Association. Retrieved 5 December 2025.
  17. ^ Ma'mun, Muhammad Yulian; Ilmi, Zainal; Fatlullah; Malihah, Lola; Meilania, Gusti Tasya; Nafidzi, Elman (2024). "Strategic Investment in Football: A Comparative Global Analysis of Saudi Arabia's Approach". At-Taradhi: Jurnal Studi Ekonomi. 15 (2): 126–136. doi:10.18592/taradhi.v15i2.15912 (inactive 5 December 2025). ISSN 2548-9941.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of December 2025 (link)
  18. ^ Revealed: Saudi Arabia's $6bn spend on 'sportswashing'
  19. ^ "Saudi Pro League Performance Stats, 2024-25 Season". ESPN. Retrieved 6 December 2025.
  20. ^ "Full text of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030". Al Arabiya English. 26 April 2016. Retrieved 5 December 2025.
  21. ^ Chadwick, Simon; Widdop, Paul (21 March 2022), "Saudi Arabia and Sport in the 21st Century", Routledge Handbook of Sport in the Middle East, London: Routledge, pp. 231–241, doi:10.4324/9781003032915-26, ISBN 978-1-003-03291-5{{citation}}: CS1 maint: work parameter with ISBN (link)
  22. ^ Elshaer, Ibrahim A. (27 December 2023). "Investment in The Sports Industry In Saudi Arabia and Its Impact on the Quality of Life of Football Fans". Journal of Law and Sustainable Development. 11 (12) e2236. doi:10.55908/sdgs.v11i12.2236. ISSN 2764-4170.
  23. ^ "Privatization of sports clubs welcomed to bring quality shift in Saudi sports". 23 November 2016. Retrieved 21 September 2018.
  24. ^ Satish, Krishna; Ginesta Portet, Xavier; De San Eugenio Vela, Jordi (1 January 2024). "Football and Nation Branding: A Case Study of Saudi Arabia's Strategy for Global Football Recognition". AdComunica: 27–52. doi:10.6035/adcomunica.7776. ISSN 2254-2728.
  25. ^ Olivereau, Victor (21 March 2022), "Investing in Sport", Routledge Handbook of Sport in the Middle East, London: Routledge, pp. 297–309, doi:10.4324/9781003032915-32, ISBN 978-1-003-03291-5{{citation}}: CS1 maint: work parameter with ISBN (link)
  26. ^ Templin, Jacob (7 August 2012). "Video: The Secret Life of a Saudi Women's Soccer Team". Time. Retrieved 20 September 2012.
  27. ^ Wagner, Rob L. "Women's soccer making headway in Saudi Arabia". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 20 September 2012.
  28. ^ "Saudi Arabia launches a soccer league for women". CNN. 27 February 2020.
  29. ^ Hilton, Tommy (28 July 2020). "Saudi Arabia announces new Mahd Sports Academy with Jose Mourinho, FIFA chief". Al Arabiya English. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
  30. ^ "Saudi Arabia unveils ambitious Mahd Sports Academy". The National News. 28 July 2020. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
  31. ^ "The SAFF accredits 33 private academies and two commercial clubs - Saudi Arabian Football Federation". www.saff.com.sa (in Arabic). Retrieved 5 December 2025.
allikas: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soccer_in_Saudi_Arabia