Quarter-finals of the Jeddah Championship 2026: Match dates for Al-Haras and Al-Shorta
Football fans in the Western Region will turn their attention this Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning to the Olympic Village Stadium, where the quarter-final (round of 8) matches of the “Jeddah 2026” tournament , featuring heavyweight clashes with a spirit of revenge and confirmation of merit among the qualified teams.
Government sector summit: National Guard vs. Police
In the first match, kicking off at 11:00 PM, the National Guard (Western Sector) and Jeddah Police teams will begin their campaigns in what could be described as an "early final." This match holds particular significance as it is a rematch of their group stage encounter, with the Police team seeking redemption after their 1-2 defeat in the opening match of Group B.
National Guard team, the 2025 champions, enter the match with high morale and a strong desire to defend their title. They boast an impressive record in the tournament, having topped their group with 4 points and overcoming the Jeddah Education Department team in the previous round with a clean 2-0 victory. Meanwhile, the Police team, who finished second in their group and qualified for this round after eliminating the Ministry of Sports team from the Makkah region (2-1), aspire to pull off an upset and eliminate the defending champions to reach the semi-finals.
A clash of academies: University versus Noor
In the second match, scheduled for 12:50 AM on Wednesday, fans eagerly anticipate a fierce clash between Jeddah's Salam University team and Mecca's Noor Academy. The circumstances surrounding this match are similar to the previous encounter, as the two teams met in the opening match of Group F, which ended with a 1-0 victory for the Jeddah side, securing them the top spot in the group with 6 points.
The University team will be looking to capitalize on their morale advantage and repeat their victory, especially after their hard-fought win against BH from Al-Qunfudhah in a penalty shootout (5-4). Meanwhile, Noor enters the match with a "do or die" mentality, buoyed by their thrilling qualification at the expense of Al-Ustoura in a penalty shootout (4-2), hoping to avenge their group stage defeat and secure a place in the next round.
The importance of the championship and the sporting context
The Jeddah 2026 Championship is gaining significant momentum in local sporting circles, serving as a unique platform that brings together government sector teams, amateur teams, and academies, thus fostering a spirit of competition and raising the players' technical level. These competitions are part of the Kingdom's active sports movement, which aims to promote sports participation and discover new talent.
It is worth noting that the winners of these two matches will face each other next Friday at the King Abdullah Sports City auxiliary stadium in Jeddah, in a first-of-its-kind event that will bring together government agencies teams and amateur teams in the semi-finals, promising a historic and anticipated encounter.
