The Jeddah Football Championship 2026 kicks off under the patronage of Saud bin Mishaal

Football fans in the Western Region will turn their attention tomorrow to the Olympic Village Stadium, where the "Jeddah Football Championship 2026" kicks off, under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Saud bin Mishaal bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Governor of Makkah Region. This championship is being held under the direct supervision of the Jeddah Governorate and in cooperation with the Makkah Region branch of the Ministry of Sports, reflecting the government's strong commitment to supporting sports activities and enhancing quality of life.

Fiery clashes at the opening

The tournament kicks off with highly anticipated matches promising plenty of excitement and competitiveness. The Olympic Village stadium will host the opening whistle at 8:45 PM, with a match between the Ministry of Sports branch team from the Makkah region and their counterparts from the Civil Defense team in Jeddah, as part of the first group (A) competition in the government teams' track.

In a special football evening, the first day’s matches will be completed with a match within the Amateur League Group (E), where the “Al-Ustoura” team from Mecca will meet its counterpart, the “Al-Qunfudhah” team, at 10:40 pm, in a match expected to witness a remarkable public attendance due to the popularity of neighborhood and amateur teams in the region.

Promoting community sports and achieving the goals of the vision

The importance of this tournament extends beyond its competitive aspect; it aligns perfectly with the goals of the Kingdom's Vision 2030, specifically the "Quality of Life" program, which aims to increase the percentage of people participating in sports. The participation of government sectors alongside amateur teams demonstrates the inclusiveness of the sports movement, as the tournament aims to promote sportsmanship, raise the level of physical fitness among employees and community members, and create a healthy competitive environment outside of official working hours.

Tournament system and group distribution

The tournament draw was meticulously organized, resulting in the division of participating teams into two main paths to ensure equal opportunities and ignite the spirit of competition:

First: The path of government teams

This route includes four strong groups:

• Group (A): The Ministry of Sports branch in the Makkah region, the Civil Defense, and the Ministry of Education.
• Group (B): The National Guard in the Western Sector, the Jeddah Governorate Police, and the Royal Guard.
• Group (C): Facilities Security Forces, Jeddah Security Patrols, and Special Forces for Environmental Security.
• Group (D): Border Guard in the Makkah region, Diplomatic Security, and Saudi Aramco.

Second: Amateur League Track

This path includes teams with large fan bases:

• Group (E): The hedgehog, the legend, and the ambition.
• Group (F): Noor Academy, Salam University, and Shabab Al-Ezz.
• Group (G): Al Fursan Stars (Taif), Al Taawon (Jeddah), and Al Rasoukh (Jeddah).
• Group (H): Al-Arabi (Jeddah), Al-Widad Al-Taif, and United Team (made up of former players), which adds a touch of loyalty and a revival of memories of the good old days.

This tournament is a great opportunity to discover sporting talents and strengthen social ties between members of different sectors and the youth of the region.