The “Jeddah 2026” football tournament is witnessing a significant increase in the pace of excitement and competition as the group stage nears its end, with four qualifying spots for the round of 16 having been decided after a round full of goals and fluctuating results, while the struggle is still fierce in other groups awaiting the final decisive round to determine the identity of the qualifiers.
Group (A): Double qualification for the Ministry of Sports and Jeddah Education
In one of the most notable matches of the round, the top-of-the-table clash between the Ministry of Sports and the Jeddah Education Department ended in a 2-2 draw at the Olympic Village Stadium. This result secured both teams' official passage to the Round of 16 with four points each. Despite the tie on points, the Ministry of Sports topped the group on goal difference. Abdulrahman Omar and Khalid Mohammed scored for the Education Department, while Mustafa Mohammed and Abdulmajid Al-Ghamdi (an own goal) scored for the Ministry of Sports.
Group (E): Al-Qunfudhah sweeps and accompanies the legend
Group Five saw Al-Ustoura (Makkah) and Al-Qunfudhah – BH qualify after the latter secured a resounding and well-deserved 4-1 victory over Al-Tamooh (Makkah). With this win, Al-Qunfudhah booked their place in the next round as the group's runner-up, behind group leaders Al-Ustoura. Al-Qunfudhah's goals were scored by Ali Al-Suhaimi, Mohammed Saleh, Ibrahim Al-Mahdawi, and an own goal by Siraj Mohammed, while Hashim Mohammed scored Al-Tamooh's lone goal.
Group (D): A thrilling draw postpones the decision on Aramco's qualification
In a marathon and open match, Saudi Aramco and the Diplomatic Security team played to a thrilling 3-3 draw. This result keeps both teams' hopes alive, but puts Aramco in a precarious position, as they now face a crucial match against the Border Guards to determine who qualifies. Abdul-Ilah Ahmed, Ali Zaher (own goal), and Alawi Al-Safi scored for Aramco, while Ibrahim Daghriri, Musfer Al-Shamrani, and Mutlaq Al-Shamrani scored for the Diplomatic Security team.
Group (H): Al-Widad Al-Taif complicates matters
Al-Widad Al-Taif complicated the qualification scenarios in Group H with a valuable 2-1 victory over United. This win intensified the competition for the second qualifying spot, as United will face Al-Arabi in their next match to determine who advances. Abdulrahman Halwani and Abdulaziz Al-Thubaiti scored for Al-Widad, while Ahmed Othman scored United's lone goal.
The importance of the tournament in the local sports scene
The “Jeddah 2026” tournament gains its significance from being a sporting platform that brings together teams representing government entities, major companies, and community teams, thus fostering sportsmanship and fair competition outside the formal work environment. This tournament is part of the community sports movement underway in the Kingdom, which aligns with the goals of Vision 2030 to promote sports participation and improve quality of life. Such events also contribute to discovering talent and provide a recreational and sporting outlet for the residents and visitors of Jeddah, a city that has established itself as a leading destination for major sporting events in the region.
