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August 1, 2024
With star players, World Cup-winning coaches, rising young talents, and an unforgettable atmosphere created by passionate fans, there’s no better time to start following the Roshn Saudi League. The excitement of the 2024-25 season kicks off on August 22.
You’re in the right place if you’re new to the RSL and need a brief overview of how it works.
The Roshn Saudi League now includes 18 teams from across the country, expanding from the 16 teams that competed in the 2022-2023 season.
The league operates in a traditional format, where each team plays home and away every other team over a 34-game season. This season runs from August to May, with breaks during the FIFA international windows in September, October, November, and March.
The league operates in a traditional format, where each team plays home and away every other team over a 34-game season. This season runs from August to May, with breaks during the FIFA international windows in September 2024, October, November, and March.
In the first half of the season, teams will play either nine home games and eight away matches or eight home games and nine away matches. This balance will be reversed in the second half of the season, ensuring that every team plays 17 home and 17 away games.
The 2024-25 season will also feature 18 teams, continuing from last season. In addition to the three major cities—Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam—the league includes teams from 10 other cities across the country.
Al Wehda is based in the holy city of Mecca. Damac and Al Okhdood represent the country’s southern region. Newly promoted Al Orobah, located in the Al Jouf Province, is the northernmost club in the league.
The clubs from the major cities often draw the most attention. Riyadh is home to four teams: Al Hilal and Al Nassr, the key contenders for the title last season (Al Hilal is the reigning champion); Al Shabab, the 2011-12 champions; and Al Riyadh.
In Jeddah, the city is divided between the black and yellow of Al Ittihad and the green and white of Al Ahli. Meanwhile, the Eastern Province hosts Al Ettifaq, Al Qadsiah, Al Fateh, and Al Khaleej, each representing a different city: Dammam, Al Khobar, Al Ahsa, and Saihat, respectively.
Al Hilal are the defending champions, having concluded an impressive undefeated season in 2023-24. They finished 14 points ahead of their closest competitor, Al Nassr. This marked their sixth league title in the past eight seasons, solidifying their position as Saudi Arabia’s most successful club.
Under the guidance of Portuguese coach Jorge Jesus, Al Hilal not only features some of the league’s top international talents, including Aleksandar Mitrovic, Ruben Neves, Kalidou Koulibaly, and Yassine Bounou, but also houses many of Saudi Arabia’s premier players. Among them is Salem Al Dawsari, the reigning AFC Player of the Year, renowned for his stunning goal against Argentina at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
As with significant leagues worldwide, the top clubs earn a place in continental competitions at the end of the season. In Asia, this opportunity is now represented by the newly restructured AFC Champions League Elite and AFC Champions League Two tournaments.
The Roshn Saudi League is ranked as the top league in Asia by the Asian Football Confederation, which grants it the highest number of slots for the two continental competitions.
This includes three direct qualifying spots for the AFC Champions League Elite, Asia’s top club competition featuring 24 of the continent’s best teams, and one direct entry into the AFC Champions League Two.
The three teams that qualify for the AFC Champions League Elite are the RSL champions, the runners-up, and the King’s Cup winners. The team that finishes third in the RSL earns a spot in the AFC Champions League Two.
In the 2023-24 season, since Al Hilal won the RSL and the King’s Cup, the second and third-placed teams, Al Nassr and Al Ahli, secured direct qualification for the AFC Champions League Elite. Meanwhile, the fourth-placed team, Al Taawoun, qualified for the AFC Champions League Two.
Similar to most domestic leagues worldwide, teams that underperform on the pitch face the risk of relegation.
Beneath the Roshn Saudi League is the Saudi First Division League, also known as the Yelo First Division League. The end of each RSL season, the bottom three teams are automatically relegated to the First Division League. Concurrently, the top two teams from the First Division League secure automatic promotion to the RSL for the following season. Additionally, teams finishing third through sixth in the First Division League compete in a play-off to claim the final promotion spot in the top division.
After the 2023-24 RSL season, Abha, Al Tai, and Al Hazem were relegated. In contrast, Al Qadsiah, Al Orobah, and Al Kholood were promoted to the 2024-25 RSL.
With the RSL’s extensive reach, numerous inter-city rivalries feature some of the most exciting matches of the season. These include the Riyadh Derby between Al Hilal and Al Nassr, the Jeddah Derby between Al Ittihad and Al Ahli, and the Eastern Province Derby between Al Ettifaq and Al Qadsiah.
New this season, the three fixtures will all occur during the “Magic Round” in Matchweek 9, meaning they will be played across the same weekend.
Al Shabab and Al Riyadh are also based in the capital, and Riyadh features six derbies. Additionally, Buraidah hosts the growingly famous Qassim Derby between Al Raed and Al Taawoun.
While not a derby, the Saudi Clasico is still one of the standout matches in the RSL—and Asian football. This fixture features a clash between Al Hilal and Al Ittihad, two of the most decorated and widely supported clubs in the Kingdom and the only two teams from the nation to have won the AFC Champions League.
The two most recent Saudi champions will face off for the first time in the 2024-25 RSL in Riyadh during Matchweek 4. Last season’s opening Clasico was a thrilling 4-3 encounter, making this upcoming clash a must-watch event.
Other notable cross-city rivalries include Al Nassr versus Al Ahli, Al Ettifaq versus Al Fateh, and Al Wehda versus Al Ittihad. The latter, known as the ‘Old Derby,’ features the two oldest clubs in Saudi Arabia.
The RSL boasts some of the world’s most passionate and dedicated fans. From captivating tifo displays to loud singing and chanting, these supporters create a spectacular atmosphere that enhances the thrilling action on the pitch.
The competition in the stands, with each set of fans striving to outdo the other, is nearly as intense as the action on the pitch. It offers a glimpse into Saudis’ remarkable passion for the beautiful game.
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Katarzyna Nowak is a seasoned writer with over five years of experience in editorial content, news reporting, and football sportsbook app reviews. As an author for Football News Today, she combines her deep understanding of the sports betting industry with a passion for football, delivering insightful and accurate content that keeps readers informed and engaged.
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