Saudi youth football leagues kick off today for 2026-2027 season

Youth football league competitions for the Under-15 and Under-17 age groups in the Saudi Premier League, as well as the First Division U-17 league, begin today, Thursday, for the 2026-2027 season, with 18 clubs competing in each tournament. These competitions are part of a broader initiative to develop young talent, enhance their technical skills, and prepare them for future stages.

The Saudi Premier League U-17 features clubs including Al-Taawoun, Al-Batin, Al-Hilal, Abha, Al-Fateh, Al-Riyadh, Al-Ula, Al-Qadsiah, Al-Shabab, Al-Watan, Al-Hazem, Al-Nassr, Al-Orouba, Al-Ahli, Al-Ittihad, Al-Raed, Al-Ettifaq, and Al-Fayha. In the U-15 Premier League, participating clubs are Al-Ittihad, Al-Batin, Al-Ula, Al-Ahli, Al-Ettifaq, Ohod, Al-Fateh, Neom, Al-Adalah, Al-Qadsiah, Al-Nassr, Al-Raed, Al-Shabab, Al-Watan, Al-Okhdood, Al-Hilal, Al-Taawoun, and Al-Riyadh.

The U-17 First Division League includes Al-Khaleej, Najran, Al-Najma, Jeddah, Al-Tai, Hetten, Ohod, Al-Qala, Neom, Al-Jabalain, Al-Ansar, Al-Adalah, Al-Rawda, Hajer, Al-Wehda, Al-Safa, Al-Jeel, and Al-Qunfudhah. For the U-15 First Division, clubs such as Al-Orouba, Jeddah, Al-Khaleej, Abha, Al-Fayha, Al-Deraiya, Al-Tai, Al-Jeel, Al-Mutawa, Al-Wehda, Al-Faw, Ajyal Academy, Majd Al-Qunfudhah, Al-Zulfi, Al-Safa, Al-Jabalain, Al-Najma, and Hajer are participating.

Youth league action continues on Friday with the start of the Saudi Premier League U-16, featuring Al-Ittihad, Al-Qadsiah, Al-Hilal, Al-Ettifaq, Al-Ula, Al-Nassr, Al-Okhdood, Al-Fateh, Al-Taawoun, Al-Shabab, Al-Fayha, Al-Ahli, Ohod, Al-Watan, Al-Batin, Al-Riyadh, Al-Khaleej, and Al-Raed.

On Saturday, the Saudi Premier League U-18 kicks off with Al-Qadsiah, Al-Hazem, Al-Ahli, Al-Raed, Al-Nassr, Al-Shabab, Al-Taawoun, Al-Fayha, Al-Riyadh, Al-Ettifaq, Al-Hilal, Mahayel, Al-Fateh, Al-Watan, Al-Ittihad, Al-Faisaly, Al-Orouba, and Al-Ula. The U-18 First Division League features Al-Jabalain, Al-Rawda, Al-Batin, Al-Tai, Al-Najma, Al-Amjad, Al-Ansar, Al-Arabi, Al-Khaleej, Damac, Neom, Abha, Al-Jeel, Al-Sahari, Al-Wehda, Hajer, Al-Adalah, and Al-Qala. The final youth competition to start is the U-16 First Division, with clubs including Al-Jabalain, Al-Faw, Al-Jeel, Jeddah, Al-Safa, Al-Adalah, Radwa, Al-Qassim, Al-Tai, Al-Bukayriyah, Neom, Al-Wehda, Al-Orouba, Al-Noor, Majd Al-Qunfudhah, Al-Zulfi, Abha, and Al-Faisaly.

All four youth leagues will be played in a double round-robin format, with each team facing every other team twice—once at home and once away. The bottom three teams in the final standings will be relegated to the lower division starting from the following season.

Last season (2025-2026) saw Al-Qadsiah crowned U-18 Premier League champions, Al-Hilal win the U-17 Premier League, and Al-Ittihad claim both the U-16 and U-15 Premier League titles.

In the previous season's First Division competitions, Al-Riyadh won the U-18 title, Al-Ula took the U-17 championship, Al-Riyadh claimed the U-16 trophy, and Al-Adalah were crowned U-15 champions.

This season introduces updates to youth team rosters, increasing the maximum number of registered players. Regulations now allow Premier League U-17 and U-16 teams to register between 15 and 30 players, subject to age and player number requirements set by the federation.

This update gives clubs greater flexibility in managing their squads and expands the pool of players benefiting from competition, enhancing participation, experience, and talent development across all age groups.

Youth leagues continue to play a vital role in talent development by providing a competitive environment that offers players valuable playing time and experience, helping to discover and refine skills and preparing new generations to represent clubs and national teams in the future.

First Division youth leagues are also a key part of the development system, offering broader competitive opportunities for players and clubs, increasing participation and experience, and building a larger talent base with multiple pathways for advancement to higher levels.