Youth Leagues: A Competitive Journey Spanning 1,224 Matches

2026-09-13
15:18:56

The youth league competitions for the 2026-2027 season comprise a total of 1,224 matches, as eighteen teams participate in each of the U-15, U-16, U-17, and U-18 categories, following a progressive competitive pathway that allows young talents to experience a full season of competition and develop across successive age groups.
Action has already kicked off across all four leagues; two rounds have been played in each competition so far, totaling 72 matches (18 per league). This marks the start of a season that will span 34 rounds for each competition.
These youth leagues serve as a cornerstone of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation’s talent development ecosystem, in order to broaden the participation base, ensure sustained competition, and prepare players for a gradual transition to higher levels, ultimately supplying clubs and national teams with promising talent.
The competitions follow a double round-robin format (home and away), with each team playing 34 matches per season—17 at home and 17 away, as each round features nine matches per competition, resulting in a total of 306 matches per category, and an aggregate of 1,224 matches across all four leagues for the season.
In terms of player registration, each competition provides between 270 and 540 roster spots, offering clubs ample opportunity to recruit, field, and develop talent within a consistent competitive environment, while bringing the total capacity across the four leagues to 2,160 players.
The team with the highest points tally at the end of the season is crowned champion of its respective league; in the event of a tie, the tie-breaking criteria outlined in the competition regulations are applied.
Conversely, teams finishing in 16th, 17th, and 18th place in each league are relegated to the division below for the following season—a system that fosters competitiveness and provides all teams with a constant incentive to achieve the best possible results throughout the season.
Financial prizes are distributed in accordance with the youth development program, aiming to support clubs and encourage them to continue investing in players, developing technical and administrative staff, and enhancing the quality of competition for the benefit of the future of Saudi football.