The 2025–26 First Division League (known as the Yelo League for sponsorship reasons) was the fifth season of the Saudi First Division League after its rebrand, and the 69th season of the Saudi First Division since its establishment in 1957. The season began on 11 September 2025 and concluded with the play-off finals on 23 May 2026.[1]
| Season | 2025–26 |
|---|---|
| Dates | 11 September 2025 – 23 May 2026 |
| Champions | Abha (3rd title) |
| Promoted | Abha Al-Faisaly Al-Diriyah |
| Relegated | Al-Batin Al-Arabi Al-Jubail |
| Matches | 297 |
| Goals | 872 (2.94 per match) |
| Top goalscorer | Sylla Sow (26 goals) |
| Biggest home win | Al-Diriyah 5–0 Al-Wehda (4 February 2026) |
| Biggest away win | Al-Wehda 0–5 Al-Ula (13 September 2025) Jeddah 0–5 Al-Diriyah (25 February 2026) Al-Adalah 1–6 Al-Faisaly (2 March 2026) |
| Highest scoring | Al-Raed 6–3 Al-Adalah (22 January 2026) |
| Longest winning run | Al-Faisaly (7 matches) |
| Longest unbeaten run | Al-Faisaly (14 matches) |
| Longest winless run | Al-Batin (18 matches) |
| Longest losing run | Al-Arabi Al-Jubail (8 matches) |
| Highest attendance | 7,543 Al-Ula 1–2 Abha (9 April 2026) |
| Lowest attendance | 10 Jeddah 0–2 Al-Raed (8 April 2026) |
| Average attendance | 590 |
← 2024–25 2026–27 →
All statistics correct as of 14 May 2026. | |
Overview
editChanges
editTeam changes
editThe following teams have changed division since the 2024–25 season.
To the First Division LeaguePromoted from Second Division Relegated from Pro League |
From the First Division League |
Teams
editA total of 18 teams will be contesting the league, including 12 sides from the 2024–25 season, the three promoted teams from the Second Division and the three relegated sides from the Saudi Pro League.
Al-Raed were the first team to be relegated following a 1–0 defeat away to Damac on 11 May 2025.[3] Al-Raed were relegated after 17 consecutive seasons in the flight. On 25 May 2025, Al-Orobah became the second team to be relegated after they were docked three points for fielding an ineligible player against Al-Nassr.[4] Al-Orobah were relegated after one season in the top flight. Al-Wehda were the third and final club to be relegated, following a 2–1 away defeat to Al-Ettifaq on the final matchday.[5] Al-Wehda were relegated after three seasons in the top flight. Al-Raed will play in their 17th season in the FD League, while Al-Orobah will play in their 16th season and Al-Wehda in their 10th season.
The first club to be promoted was Al-Diriyah who did so after a 1–0 away win against Jerash on 10 February 2025.[6] On 14 March 2025, Al-Ula became the second club to be promoted following a 6–0 away win against Bisha.[7] The third and final club to be promoted was Al-Anwar, who did so after defeating Al-Jeel 3–1 on penalties (1–1 after extra time) in the promotion play-off final.[8]
Al-Diriyah were crowned champions for the second time after defeating Al-Ula 1–0 in the final.[9]
Al-Diriyah return to the First Division League after an absence of three years. They return to the league for the first time since the 2021–22 season and will play in their 6th overall season. Both Al-Anwar and Al-Ula were promoted to the First Division League for the first time in history.
Stadium and locations
edit- Note: Table lists in alphabetical order.
Personnel and kits
edit| Team | Manager | Captain | Kit manufacturer | Shirt sponsor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abha | Offside | Yelo | ||
| Al-Adalah | Al-Adalah | Yelo | ||
| Al-Anwar | Terio | Yelo | ||
| Al-Arabi | RightAway Sport | Naqi Water, Yelo | ||
| Al-Batin | Hattrick | Yelo, Almaali Hospital2 | ||
| Al-Bukiryah | RightAway Sport | Yelo, Rassin | ||
| Al-Diriyah | Macron | Yelo, Rassin | ||
| Al-Faisaly | Adidas | Aldrees, Yelo | ||
| Al-Jabalain | Offside | Abar, Yelo | ||
| Al-Jandal | Skillano | Yelo | ||
| Al-Jubail | RightAway Sport | Yelo | ||
| Al-Orobah | Offside | Yelo | ||
| Al-Raed | Challenge | Yelo | ||
| Al-Tai | Duneus | Abar, Yelo | ||
| Al-Ula | Kappa | |||
| Al-Wehda | Offside | Yelo | ||
| Al-Zulfi | Skillano | Yelo | ||
| Jeddah | Skillano | Yelo | ||
- 1 On the back of the strip.
- 2 On the right sleeve of the strip.
- 3 On the shorts.
Managerial changes
edit| Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure |
Date of vacancy | Position in table | Incoming manager | Date of appointment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abha | End of contract | 1 June 2025 | Pre-season | 1 August 2025[24] | ||
| Al-Adalah | 3 August 2025[25] | |||||
| Al-Batin | 3 August 2025[26] | |||||
| Al-Diriyah | 20 July 2025[27] | |||||
| Al-Faisaly | 27 July 2025[28] | |||||
| Al-Jabalain | 11 August 2025[29] | |||||
| Al-Jandal | 5 August 2025[30] | |||||
| Al-Jubail | 10 August 2025[31] | |||||
| Al-Orobah | 1 August 2025[32] | |||||
| Al-Raed | 4 September 2025[33] | |||||
| Al-Tai | 14 July 2025[34] | |||||
| Al-Wehda | 1 September 2025 | |||||
| Jeddah | 13 August 2025[35] | |||||
| Al-Anwar | Resigned | 25 July 2025[36] | 25 July 2025[37] | |||
| Al-Tai | 6 October 2025[38] | 15th | 8 October 2025[39] | |||
| Al-Adalah | Sacked | 29 October 2025 | 15th | 29 October 2025 | ||
| Al-Wehda | Mutual consent | 6 November 2025 | 17th | 6 November 2025 | ||
| Al-Adalah | End of caretaker period | 18 November 2025 | 15th | 18 November 2025[40] | ||
| Al-Anwar | Sacked | 24 November 2025 | 14th | 24 November 2025 | ||
| Al-Batin | Mutual consent | 27 November 2025 | 17th | 27 November 2025[41] | ||
| End of caretaker period | 1 December 2025 | 17th | 1 December 2025[42] | |||
| Al-Zulfi | Mutual consent | 2 December 2025[43] | 13th | 6 December 2025[44] | ||
| Al-Jubail | Sacked | 4 December 2025 | 18th | 4 December 2025[45] | ||
| Al-Arabi | 5 December 2025 | 14th | 11 December 2025[46] | |||
| Al-Diriyah | 6 December 2025[47] | 4th | 6 December 2025[48] | |||
| Al-Anwar | End of caretaker period | 11 December 2025 | 12th | 11 December 2025 | ||
| Al-Wehda | 15 December 2025 | 15th | 15 December 2025[49] | |||
| Al-Jandal | Mutual consent | 29 December 2025[50] | 12th | 29 December 2025[51] | ||
| Al-Ula | Sacked | 3 January 2026[52] | 4th | 3 January 2026[53] | ||
| Al-Tai | Resigned | 8 January 2026 | 11th | 8 January 2026 | ||
| Al-Batin | Sacked | 20 January 2026[54] | 18th | 20 January 2026[55] | ||
| Al-Raed | 5 February 2026 | 8th | 5 February 2026 | |||
| End of caretaker period | 18 February 2026 | 8th | 18 February 2026[56] | |||
| Al-Bukiryah | Sacked | 23 February 2026[57] | 8th | 23 February 2026[58] | ||
| Al-Arabi | 26 February 2026 | 16th | 2 March 2026[59] | |||
| Al-Adalah | 18 March 2026[60] | 15th | 25 March 2026[61] | |||
| Al-Batin | End of caretaker period | 26 April 2026 | 16th | 26 April 2026[62] | ||
Foreign players
editThe number of foreign players is limited to 5 players per team, in addition to two slots for U21 players (born in 2004 or after).
- Players name in bold indicates the player is registered during the mid-season transfer window.
- Players in italics were out of the squad or left the club within the season, after the pre-season transfer window, or in the mid-season transfer window, and at least had one appearance.
League table
edit| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Abha (C, P) | 34 | 24 | 5 | 5 | 64 | 35 | +29 | 77 | Promotion to the Pro League |
| 2 | Al-Faisaly (P) | 34 | 21 | 10 | 3 | 76 | 32 | +44 | 73 | |
| 3 | Al-Diriyah (O, P) | 34 | 22 | 6 | 6 | 79 | 39 | +40 | 72 | Qualification for the promotion play-offs |
| 4 | Al-Ula | 34 | 21 | 8 | 5 | 72 | 33 | +39 | 71 | |
| 5 | Al-Orobah | 34 | 20 | 5 | 9 | 56 | 38 | +18 | 65 | |
| 6 | Al-Jabalain | 34 | 17 | 8 | 9 | 59 | 38 | +21 | 59 | |
| 7 | Al-Raed | 34 | 14 | 10 | 10 | 64 | 46 | +18 | 52 | |
| 8 | Al-Zulfi | 34 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 46 | 45 | +1 | 45 | |
| 9 | Al-Tai | 34 | 12 | 8 | 14 | 48 | 52 | −4 | 44 | |
| 10 | Al-Wehda | 34 | 12 | 7 | 15 | 52 | 58 | −6 | 43[a] | |
| 11 | Al-Bukiryah | 34 | 12 | 7 | 15 | 36 | 48 | −12 | 43[a] | |
| 12 | Al-Anwar | 34 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 53 | 54 | −1 | 41 | |
| 13 | Jeddah | 34 | 9 | 12 | 13 | 34 | 51 | −17 | 39 | |
| 14 | Al-Adalah | 34 | 8 | 9 | 17 | 44 | 70 | −26 | 33 | |
| 15 | Al-Jandal | 34 | 8 | 8 | 18 | 34 | 60 | −26 | 32 | |
| 16 | Al-Batin (R) | 34 | 5 | 7 | 22 | 39 | 69 | −30 | 22 | Relegation to the Second Division |
| 17 | Al-Arabi (R) | 34 | 5 | 6 | 23 | 24 | 67 | −43 | 21 | |
| 18 | Al-Jubail (R) | 34 | 3 | 5 | 26 | 28 | 73 | −45 | 14 |
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Total goal difference; 5) Total goals scored; 6) Fair-play points
(Note: Head-to-head record is used only after all the matches between the teams in question have been played).[63]
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Notes:
Positions by round
editThe table lists the positions of teams after each week of matches. In order to preserve chronological evolution, any postponed matches are not included in the round at which they were originally scheduled but added to the full round they were played immediately afterward.
| Promotion to the Pro League | |
| Qualification for the promotion play-offs | |
| Relegation to the Second Division |
Results
editPromotion play-offs
edit| Semi-finals | Final | ||||||||
| 3 | Al-Diriyah | 3 | |||||||
| 6 | Al-Jabalain | 0 | |||||||
| 3 | Al-Diriyah | 2 | |||||||
| 4 | Al-Ula | 1 | |||||||
| 4 | Al-Ula (a.e.t.) | 2 | |||||||
| 5 | Al-Orobah | 1 | |||||||
Semi-finals
edit| Al-Diriyah | 3–0 | Al-Jabalain |
|---|---|---|
|
Final
edit| Al-Diriyah | 2–1 (a.e.t.) | Al-Ula |
|---|---|---|
|
|
Statistics
edit- As of 14 May 2026
Scoring
editTop scorers
edit| Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Abha | 27 | |
| Al-Orobah | |||
| 3 | Al-Diriyah | 26 | |
| 4 | Al-Raed | 24 | |
| 5 | Al-Ula | 22 | |
| 6 | Al-Faisaly | 21 | |
| 7 | Al-Diriyah | 19 | |
| Al-Jabalain | |||
| 9 | Al-Tai | 17 | |
| 10 | Al-Ula | 14 | |
| Al-Jabalain | |||
Hat-tricks
edit| Player | For | Against | Result | Date | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Al-Raed | Al-Adalah | 4–4 (A) | 12 September 2025 | [64] | |
| Al-Diriyah | Al-Adalah | 3–1 (H) | 17 September 2025 | [65] | |
| Al-Orobah | Al-Adalah | 4–1 (A) | 20 October 2025 | [66] | |
| Al-Orobah | Al-Diriyah | 3–3 (H) | 28 October 2025 | [67] | |
| Al-Ula | Al-Jandal | 5–1 (H) | 21 December 2025 | ||
| Al-Anwar | Al-Adalah | 4–1 (H) | 5 January 2026 | ||
| Al-Bukiryah | Al-Batin | 5–1 (H) | 6 January 2026 | ||
| Al-Raed | Al-Adalah | 6–3 (H) | 22 January 2026 | ||
| Al-Orobah | Al-Tai | 3–1 (A) | 28 January 2026 | ||
| Al-Diriyah | Jeddah | 5–0 (A) | 25 February 2026 | ||
| Al-Zulfi | Al-Arabi | 4–1 (A) | 7 April 2026 | ||
| Al-Raed | Abha | 5-1 (H) | 13 May 2026 |
Clean sheets
edit| Rank | Player | Club | Clean sheets |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Al-Faisaly | 13 | |
| 2 | Al-Ula | 12 | |
| 3 | Abha | 11 | |
| Al-Jabalain | |||
| 5 | Al-Diriyah | 8 | |
| Al-Orobah | |||
| 7 | Al-Zulfi | 7 | |
| 8 | Al-Tai | 6 | |
| 9 | Al-Bukiryah | 5 | |
| Jeddah | |||
| Al-Raed | |||
Number of teams by province
editSee also
editReferences
edit- ↑ "روزنامة الموسم الرياضي 2025-2026".
- ↑ "منع الحراس الأجانب في «يلو»".
- ↑ "رياضي / الرائد يهبط لدوري الدرجة الأولى".
- ↑ "النصر ينتزع نقاط العروبة بقرار مركز التحكيم".
- ↑ "الأخدود ينجو بريمونتادا مثيرة.. والوحدة يهبط".
- ↑ "الدرعية أول الصاعدين إلى دوري يلو."
- ↑ "العُلا.. حكاية صعود تاريخي".
- ↑ "(الأنوار) يصعد إلى دوري (يلو) لأول مرة في تاريخه".
- ↑ "الدرعية بطل دوري الدرجة الثانية".
- ↑ "Prince Sultan Sport City Stadium (Mahalah)".
- ↑ "Prince Abdullah bin Jalawi Sports City Stadium".
- ↑ "بدء تنفيذ مشروع منشأة نادي الأنوار بتكلفة (60 مليون ريال)".
- ↑ "Department of Education Stadium in Unaizah".
- ↑ "Al batin Club Stadiuem".
- ↑ "Albukiryah Club Stadium".
- ↑ "Prince Turki bin Abdul Aziz Stadium".
- ↑ "استاد الأمير عبدالعزيز بن مساعد بن جلوي". kooora.com. Retrieved 18 September 2018.
- ↑ ""ملعب جامعة الجوف" في أتم جاهزية بعد أعمال التطوير".
- ↑ "استاد مدينة الأمير نايف بن عبدالعزيز الرياضية".
- ↑ "استاد مدينة الأمير سعود بن جلوي الرياضية (الراكة)".
- ↑ "ملعب نادي العروبة - AlOrubah Club Stadium".
- ↑ "مدينة الأمير محمد بن عبدالعزيز الرياضية".
- ↑ "ملعب نادي الزلفي - Zulfi Club Stadium".
- ↑ "الكرواتي «بوريتش» مدرباً لأبها.. والطارف يتفق مع الإدارة".
- ↑ "العياري يدرب العدالة".
- ↑ "غريغوري دوفرينيس مدرباً للسماوي".
- ↑ "لموشي يقود الدرعية في «يلو»".
- ↑ "الإيطالي جيوفاني سوليناس مدربًا للفريق الأول لكرة القدم".
- ↑ "مرحباً بك مدربنا "ريكاردو تشيو" في ناديك".
- ↑ "الصـربي "زوران ميلينكوفيتش " مدربًا لـ #مارد_الجوف".
- ↑ "البرتغالي بيدرو رودريغيز مدربًا للفريق الأول لكرة القدم في " نادي الجبيل "".
- ↑ "المقدوني سلافشي فوينيسكي مديراً فنياً للفريق الأول في #دوري_يلو".
- ↑ "البرتغالي جورجي مندوسا مدرباً للفريق الأول بنادي #الرائد".
- ↑ "الطائي يتعاقد مع الإسباني كارلوس هيرنانديز لقيادة الفريق حتى 2026".
- ↑ "جدة يتعاقد مع المدرب البرازيلي روبرتو أوليفيرا".
- ↑ "إدارة النادي توافق على إعتذار المدرب الوطني سلطان خميس عن عدم الاستمرار في مهمته كمدرب للفريق الأول".
- ↑ "وقعت إدارة نادي الأنوار عقداً مع المدرب البرتغالي " ديفيد باتريسيو "".
- ↑ "إدارة نادي الطائي تقبل استقالة "كارلوس هيرنانديز"".
- ↑ "خليل المهنا مدربـًا للفريق الأول".
- ↑ "الفرنسي ديديه غوميز يقود العدالة بدلًا من التونسي محمد العباري".
- ↑ "إدارة النادي تقرر إنهاء العلاقة التعاقدية مع مدرب الفريق الأول".
- ↑ "#الباطن يتعاقد مع المدرب البرتغالي باولو الفيش لقيادة الفريق الاول لكرة القدم".
- ↑ "تُعلن إدارة نادي الزلفي إنهاء عقد مدرب الفريق الأول خالد القروني بالتراضي".
- ↑ "العرّاب بن رمضان #زلفاوي".
- ↑ "خالد النعيمي مدربًا لفريق الجبيل الأول لكرة القدم".
- ↑ ""العربي يتعاقد مع المدرب التونسي غازي الغرايري"".
- ↑ "الدرعية يقيل لموشي".
- ↑ "الدرعية يتعاقد مع الهولندي شرودر لاستكمال «حلم الصعود»".
- ↑ "الوحدة يعيد سفيكو إلى يلو".
- ↑ "مجلس إدارة نادي #الجندل يقرر إنهاء عقد المدرب الصربي زوران ميلينكوفيتش".
- ↑ "الشـابـي مدرباً لـ #مارد_الجوف".
- ↑ "المدرب القدير "يوسف المناعي" ، شكرًا لك".
- ↑ "رسميًا.. بيسيرو مدربًا لنادي العلا".
- ↑ "إدارة النادي تقرر إنهاء العلاقة التعاقدية مع مدرب الفريق الأول".
- ↑ "البرتغالي هنري ماكينو مدرباً للسماوي".
- ↑ "التونسي ناصيف البياوي مديراً فنياً لفريق #الرائد".
- ↑ "إدارة #نادي_البكيرية تقرر إعفاء المدرب الأوروغوياني ليوناردو راموس من منصبه".
- ↑ "فابيانو فلورا مدرباً للبنفسجي".
- ↑ "الفرنسي "لوران هاجسيت" مدربًا لفريق العربي الأول".
- ↑ "العدالة يُنهي عقد جوميز ويتعاقد مع المكشر".
- ↑ "محمد المكشر مدربا جديدا للعدالة السعودي".
- ↑ "ماهر الشمري يقود #السماوي خلال الجولات القادمة".
- ↑ "اللائحة التنظيمية لدوري الأمير محمد بن سلمان لأندية الأولى" [Regulations of Prince Mohammed bin Salman League for Division One Teams] (PDF) (in Arabic). SAFF. Retrieved 19 August 2019.
- ↑ "هـــاتــريــك جانو زينهو".
- ↑ "صاحب الهاتريك جايتان لابورد".
- ↑ "@ALOROBAH_FC يعود بالنقاط الثلاث إلى الجوف".
- ↑ "#العروبة_الدرعية يتقاسمان النقاط".