Football in Saudi Arabia

King Fahd Sports City in 2008

Country| Saudi Arabia
Governing body| SAFF
National team(s)| National team
Under-23 national team
Under-20 national team
Under-17 national team
Women's national team
Nickname(s)| The Falcons
First played| 1957
Clubs| 172

National competitions

* FIFA World Cup
* AFC Asian Cup
* FIFA Arab Cup
* WAFF Championship
* Arabian Gulf Cup

Club competitions

List

*     * League:
Saudi Pro League
Saudi First Division League
Saudi Second Division League
Saudi Third Division League
Saudi Fourth Division League
Saudi Women's Premier League
Saudi Women's First Division League
Saudi Women's Second Division League
* Cups:
King's Cup
Saudi Super Cup
SAFF Women's Cup

International competitions

* FIFA Club World Cup
* AFC Champions League Elite

Audience records

Season| 2022–23 in Saudi Arabian football

Football is the most popular sport in Saudi Arabia.[1] Football in Saudi Arabia is governed by the Saudi Arabia Football Federation (SAFF) (Arabic: الاتحاد السعودي لكرة القدم). It was founded in 1956.[2] It administers both the club competitions and the national football teams of Saudi Arabia.

The Saudi Arabia Football Federation founder is Prince Abdullah bin Faisal al Saud.

## History

[edit]

### National football team

[edit]

Uruguay-Saudi Arabia match at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia

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).

### Rivalries

[edit]

Saudi Arabia has a major rivalry with Iran.[citation needed]

### League

[edit]

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.[3]

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]

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.[4] 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.

## Events hosted

[edit]

* 1972 Arabian Gulf Cup
* 1984 Arab Club Champions Cup
* 1985 Afro-Asian Cup of Nations
* 1985 Arab Cup
* 1985–86 Asian Club Championship
* 1986 AFC Youth Championship
* 1986 Asian Club Championship
* 1987 Arab Club Champions Cup
* 1988 Arabian Gulf Cup
* 1989 Arab Cup Winners' Cup
* 1989 FIFA World Youth Championship
* 1992 AFC U-17 Championship
* 1992 FIFA Confederations Cup
* 1995 Arab Super Cup
* 1995 FIFA Confederations Cup
* 1996 Arab Super Cup
* 1997 Asian Super Cup
* 1997 FIFA Confederations Cup
* 1998 Arab Club Champions Cup
* 1998 Asian Super Cup
* 1999 Asian Super Cup
* 2000 Arab Club Champions Cup
* 2000 Arab Cup Winners' Cup
* 2000 Asian Super Cup
* 2001 Asian Super Cup
* 2002 Arab Unified Club Championship
* 2002 Arabian Gulf Cup
* 2002 Asian Super Cup
* 2005 Islamic Solidarity Games
* 2008 AFC U-19 Championship
* 2008 GCC U-23 Championship
* 2011 Arab Cup U-17
* 2012 Arab Cup
* 2014 AFC Champions League final
* 2014 Arabian Gulf Cup
* 2017 AFC Champions League final
* 2018 Supercoppa Italiana
* 2019 AFC Champions League final
* 2019 Supercoppa Italiana
* 2020 Supercopa de España
* 2020 Arab Cup U-20
* 2021 AFC Champions League final
* 2021 WAFF U-15 Championship
* 2021 WAFF U-23 Championship
* 2022 Supercopa de España
* 2022 Arab Cup U-20
* 2022 Supercoppa Italiana
* 2022 WAFF U-23 Championship
* 2023 Arab Club Champions Cup
* 2023 FIFA Club World Cup
* 2023 Supercopa de España
* 2023 Supercoppa Italiana
* 2024 WAFF U-23 Championship
* 2024 Supercoppa Italiana
* 2025 Supercopa de España
* 2024–25 AFC Champions League Elite final stage
* 2027 AFC Asian Cup
* 2034 FIFA World Cup

## National team

[edit]

Main article: Saudi Arabia national football team

### National ranking

[edit]

As of 19 September 2024[update], Saudi Arabia is placed 56th in the FIFA World Rankings

### Achievements

[edit]

* 1970 Arabian Gulf Cup – Third place
* 1972 Arabian Gulf Cup – Runner-up
* 1973 AFC Youth Championship – Fourth place
* 1974 Arabian Gulf Cup – Runner-up
* 1976 Pan Arab Games – Silver
* 1979 Arabian Gulf Cup — Third place
* 1982 Asian Games – Bronze
* 1984 Arabian Gulf Cup – Third place
* 1984 AFC Asian Cup – Champion
* 1985 Arab Cup – Third place
* 1985 Pan Arab Games – Fourth place
* 1985 Afro-Asian Cup of Nations – Runner-up
* 1985 AFC Youth Championship – Runner-up
* 1985 AFC U-16 Championship – Champion
* 1986 Arabian Gulf Cup – Third place
* 1986 Asian Games – Silver
* 1986 AFC Youth Championship – Champion
* 1986 AFC U-16 Championship – Third place
* 1988 Arabian Gulf Cup – Third place
* 1988 AFC Asian Cup – Champion
* 1988 AFC U-16 Championship – Champion
* 1989 FIFA U-16 World Championship – Champion
* 1992 Arabian Gulf Cup – Third place
* 1992 AFC Asian Cup – Runner-up
* 1992 FIFA Confederations Cup – Runner-up
* 1992 Arab Cup – Runner-up
* 1992 AFC Youth Championship – Champion
* 1992 AFC U-17 Championship – Third place
* 1994 Arabian Gulf Cup – Champion
* 1996 Arabian Gulf Cup – Third place
* 1996 AFC Asian Cup – Champion
* 1997 Afro-Asian Cup of Nations – Runner-up
* 1998 Arabian Gulf Cup – Runner-up
* 1998 Arab Cup – Champion
* 1998 AFC Youth Championship – Third place
* 1999 FIFA Confederations Cup – Fourth place
* 2000 AFC Asian Cup – Runner-up
* 2002 Arabian Gulf Cup – Champion
* 2002 Arab Cup – Champion
* 2002 AFC Youth Championship – Third place
* 2003‒04 Arabian Gulf Cup – Champion
* 2005 Islamic Solidarity Games – Gold
* 2007 Arabian Gulf Cup – Third place
* 2007 AFC Asian Cup – Runner-up
* 2007 Pan Arab Games – Bronze
* 2008 GCC U-23 Championship – Champion
* 2009 Arabian Gulf Cup – Runner-up
* 2010 Arabian Gulf Cup – Runner-up
* 2010 AFC U-19 Championship – Fourth place
* 2011 GCC U-23 Championship – Third place
* 2011 Arab Cup U-20 – Runner-up
* 2011 Arab Cup U-17 – Champion
* 2012 Arab Cup U-20 – Runner-up
* 2012 Arab Cup – Fourth place
* 2012 GCC U-23 Championship – Champion
* 2013 AFC U-22 Championship – Runner-up
* 2013 GCC U-23 Championship – Runner-up
* 2013 Islamic Solidarity Games – Fourth place
* 2014 Arabian Gulf Cup – Runner-up
* 2014 Arab Cup U-17 – Runner-up
* 2015 GCC U-23 Championship – Champion
* 2015 GCC U-19 Championship – Fourth place
* 2016 GCC U-23 Championship – Champion
* 2016 AFC U-19 Championship – Runner-up
* 2016 GCC U-19 Championship – Champion
* 2018 AFC U-19 Championship – Champion
* 2019 Arabian Gulf Cup – Runner-up
* 2020 AFC U-23 Championship – Runner-up
* 2021 Arab Cup U-20 – Champion
* 2021 Islamic Solidarity Games – Runner-up
* 2022 AFC U-23 Asian Cup – Champion
* 2022 Arab Cup U-20 – Champion
* 2022 WAFF U-23 Championship – Champion

## Leagues of Saudi Arabia

[edit]

As of 2024

There are five professional football league levels of Saudi Arabia for men and three for women:

* Saudi Pro League – 18 clubs
* First Division – 18 clubs
* Second Division – 32 clubs
* Third Division – 40 clubs
* Fourth Division – 74 clubs

* Saudi Women's Premier League –10 clubs

* Saudi Women's First Division League – 10 clubs

* Saudi Women's Second Division League – 25 clubs

The Saudi Pro League was ranked 27th in 2015 by the International Federation of Football.[5]

## List of the men Top League champions

[edit]

| No  | Season  | Champion  | Runners Up

|
|
|

Categorization League
C | 1974–75 | Al-Nassr | Al-Hilal
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
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

## Stadiums

[edit]

Main article: List of football stadiums in Saudi Arabia

* Al-Batin Club Stadium
* Al-Bukiryah Club Stadium
* Al-Hazem Club Stadium
* Al Majma'ah Sports City
* Al-Najma Club Stadium
* Al-Okhdood Club Stadium
* Al-Shoulla Club Stadium
* Department of Education Stadium
* King Abdul Aziz Stadium
* King Abdullah Sport City Stadium (Buraidah)
* King Abdullah Sports City
* King Fahd International Stadium
* King Fahd Stadium
* King Khalid Sport City Stadium
* King Saud Sport City Stadium
* Mrsool Park
* Prince Abdul Aziz bin Musa'ed Stadium
* Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium
* Prince Abdullah bin Jalawi Stadium
* Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium
* Prince Mohamed bin Fahd Stadium
* Prince Mohammed bin Abdul Aziz Stadium
* Prince Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium
* Prince Saud bin Jalawi Stadium
* Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz Stadium
* Prince Turki bin Abdul Aziz Stadium

## Best Player of Asia award

[edit]

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

[edit]

Main article: Football League system in Saudi Arabia

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.[citation needed]

## Women's football

[edit]

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.[6][7] In February 2020, Saudi Arabia launched a football league for women.[8]

## Academies

[edit]

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.[9] Once complete, the academy will be one of the largest in the world.[10]

## Saudi Arabia football privatization

[edit]

In November 2016, the government of Saudi Arabia approved plans to turn state-owned sports clubs into private companies.[11] This is part of the economic reforms to reduce Saudi reliance on oil exports and ease financial burdens on the government.[12]

## See also

[edit]

* List of football clubs in Saudi Arabia
* List of football stadiums in Saudi Arabia

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "James Dorsey: Soccer Emerges as Focal Point of Dissent in Saudi Arabia". HuffPost. 20 May 2013. Retrieved 18 January 2014.
2. ^ "Saudi Arabia on FIFA.com". FIFA. Archived from the original on 13 June 2007. Retrieved 24 July 2011.
3. ^ Jones, Rory (1 May 2013). "Saudi Arabia Seeks to Upgrade Domestic Professional Soccer". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 18 January 2014.
4. ^ Revealed: Saudi Arabia’s $6bn spend on ‘sportswashing’
5. ^ "The Strongest League in the World 2015 - IFFHS". 7 January 2016. Retrieved 21 September 2018.
6. ^ Templin, Jacob (7 August 2012). "Video: The Secret Life of a Saudi Women's Soccer Team". Time. Retrieved 20 September 2012.
7. ^ Wagner, Rob L. "Women's soccer making headway in Saudi Arabia". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 20 September 2012.
8. ^ "Saudi Arabia launches a soccer league for women". CNN. 27 February 2020.
9. ^ Hilton, Tommy (28 July 2020). "Saudi Arabia announces new Mahd Sports Academy with Jose Mourinho, FIFA chief". Al Arabiya English. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
10. ^ "Saudi Arabia unveils ambitious Mahd Sports Academy". The National News. 28 July 2020. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
11. ^ "Privatization of sports clubs welcomed to bring quality shift in Saudi sports". 23 November 2016. Retrieved 21 September 2018.
12. ^ El-Erian, Mohamed A. (16 May 2016). "Saudi Arabia's attempt to reduce reliance on oil has the world rapt". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 September 2018.

* v
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Football in Saudi Arabia

SAFF

National teams|

| Men|

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|

Women|

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|

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| Men|

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|

Women|

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Cup competitions|

| Men|

* King Cup
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|

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* SAFF Cup

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