Saudi First Division League kicks off Friday with three key matches

The Saudi First Division League football season for 2026-2027 kicks off on Friday, with the opening round featuring three highly anticipated matches as clubs look to start the new campaign strongly.

This season features three newly promoted clubs from the Second Division—Al-Saqr, Al-Jeel, and Hajer—alongside teams relegated from last season’s Saudi Pro League: Damac, Al-Okhdood, and Al-Najma. They join AlUla, Al-Orobah, Al-Jabalain, Al-Raed, Al-Zulfi, Al-Tai, Al-Wehda, Al-Bukayriyah, Al-Anwar, Jeddah, Al-Adalah, and Al-Jandal.

Three matches open the round

Three matches will be played on Friday in the first round: Al-Jeel faces Al-Zulfi in Al-Ahsa, Al-Anwar visits Al-Bukayriyah in Al-Qassim, and Al-Wehda hosts Al-Adalah.

Al-Jeel, newly promoted from the Second Division, aims for a strong start against Al-Zulfi, who finished eighth last season. Al-Bukayriyah and Al-Anwar, who placed eleventh and twelfth respectively last season, both seek a positive start after surpassing 40 points last year.

Al-Wehda enters its match against Al-Adalah with high morale after reaching the Round of 16 in the King’s Cup by defeating Al-Shabab, while Al-Adalah hopes for a positive result as it looks to overcome last season’s challenges.

Opening round continues

The opening round continues on Saturday, with Al-Najma facing Al-Jandal in Buraidah, Al-Okhdood visiting Al-Tai in Hail, and Al-Orobah hosting Al-Raed.

Al-Najma, relegated from the Pro League, begins its campaign against Al-Jandal, aiming for a perfect start to quickly return to the top flight. Al-Tai, who finished ninth last season, seeks a strong opening against Al-Okhdood, who are also targeting a return to the elite after defeating Al-Khaleej in the King’s Cup.

The clash between Al-Orobah, fifth last season, and Al-Raed, who finished seventh, stands out as one of the round’s top fixtures, with both teams eager to start their promotion push on a high note.

Round concludes with key encounters

The round concludes on Sunday, as Hajer returns to the First Division to face Jeddah, while Al-Saqr, champion of the Second Division, meet Damac, relegated from the Pro League, in a high-profile match in Buraidah.

The opening round also features a much-anticipated clash between AlUla and Al-Jabalain. AlUla enters the match with confidence after reaching the King’s Cup Round of 16 by defeating Al-Fateh, seeking to bounce back from last season’s heartbreak when they missed out on historic promotion in the playoff. Al-Jabalain faces a similar challenge, having finished sixth last season and exited in the playoff semifinals against Al-Deraeya.