Saudi club Al Ittihad commence their defense of the Saudi Pro League championship against Al Okhdood, while superstar Cristiano Ronaldo and his team Al Nassr take on Al Taawoun in separate matches.
Saudi Pro League 2025-26 Season Set to Kick Off
The highly anticipated Saudi Pro League 2025-26 season is scheduled to begin on August 28, 2025. Four of the league's most prominent teams – Al Ittihad, Al Nassr, Al Hilal, and Al Ahli – are set to feature in key early fixtures.
Defending champions Al Ittihad, led by captain Karim Benzema, will start their title defence away against Al Okhdood. They are also set for a major Jeddah showdown against Al Hilal in Matchweek 6. In their opening matches, they will face Al Fateh, followed by Al Nassr and a trip to promoted Al Najma, before the crucial match against Al Hilal.
Al Nassr, featuring Cristiano Ronaldo who recently renewed his contract, will open away at Al Taawoun and have an early tough trip to face Al Ittihad in Jeddah on Matchweek 4. Their early schedule includes a home clash with Neom on Matchday 8 and a visit to Al Ittihad on Matchday 4.
Al Hilal, the 2023-24 champions under Jorge Jesus, kick off with a Riyadh city derby against Al Riyadh. They face Al Nassr, Al Ahli, and Al Ittihad in key fixtures, including the Capital Derby in Matchweek 15. Notable signings for Al Hilal include Ruben Neves, Aleksandar Mitrovic, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, and the return of Neymar. They also welcomed Theo Hernandez from AC Milan and Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez.
Al Ahli open at home against promoted teams and soon after have matches against top rivals Al Hilal (Matchday 3) and Al Ittihad (Matchday 8). The Sea Derby between Al Ahli and Al Ittihad is scheduled for Matchday 8. The challenging winter stretch for Al Hilal includes matches against Al Ahli (A), Al Qadsiah (H), Al Hilal (A) in the Capital Derby, and Al Shabab (H).
The league has introduced “Magic Rounds” in Gameweeks 9 and 26, showcasing local derbies including Al Hilal vs Al Nassr and Al Ittihad vs Al Ahli, multiplying excitement for fans. The final game of the season for Al Ittihad is a rematch of last season’s King’s Cup final against Al Qadsiah in Jeddah. Qadsiah have signed Mateo Retegui, last season’s top scorer in Serie A, from Atalanta.
New arrivals to the league include former Real Madrid captain Nacho, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Houssem Aouar, Moussa Diaby, and Predrag Rajkovic. For Al Ittihad, Karim Benzema has expressed ambitions for the title chase. Al Nassr have appointed former Al Hilal manager Jorge Jesus as their new coach and have signed attacking midfielder Joao Felix from Chelsea.
In summary, the 2025-26 Saudi Pro League starts late August with a full slate of high-profile matches and continues to attract world-class signings, making it one of the most competitive seasons yet.
- The 2025-26 Saudi Pro League, a world-class sport event, is set to commence on August 28, 2025, featuring key matches from teams like Al Ittihad, Al Nassr, Al Hilal, and Al Ahli.
- Europe's top talent has started to travel to the league, with players like Cristiano Ronaldo (Al Nassr), Ruben Neves (Al Hilal), and Darwin Nunez (Al Hilal) joining the fray.
- The video coverage of the league's matches, including the highly anticipated derbies between Al Hilal and Al Nassr, and Al Ittihad and Al Ahli, will surely be a hot topic for sports news around the world.
- The European leagues, such as the Premier League, are closely watching the Saudi Pro League, with players like Karim Benzema (Al Ittihad) and Joao Felix (Al Nassr) now part of the league's roster.
- Fans can look forward to the "Magic Rounds" in Gameweeks 9 and 26, which include local derbies, promising exciting features and adding to the league's ever-increasing popularity.
