The Jeddah Football Championship 2026, a prominent sporting event held under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Saud bin Mishaal bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Governor of Makkah Region, kicks off in Jeddah. Organized under the direct supervision of the Jeddah Governorate and the regional branch of the Ministry of Sports, the championship reflects the growing interest in community sports and their role in building a healthy and vibrant society.
Background and significance of the event in the context of Vision 2030
This tournament is part of a series of sporting initiatives in Saudi Arabia aimed at enhancing the quality of life for citizens and residents, in line with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030. The Vision seeks to increase sports participation in society, and tournaments like this are an ideal platform to achieve this goal, encouraging active participation and providing a structured competitive environment for youth and amateur players. They also contribute to discovering promising football talents who may find their way to professional clubs, thus supporting the long-term development of Saudi football.
Expected impact on the local sports scene
The tournament is expected to have a significant positive impact on the sports scene in Jeddah and the Makkah region. It is not merely a sporting competition, but also a social gathering that strengthens ties between the various participating government entities and amateur teams from different neighborhoods and cities. This gathering reinforces the values of sportsmanship and cooperation, and contributes to raising awareness of the importance of physical activity. Furthermore, the participation of prominent government bodies lends the tournament an official and serious character, encouraging greater participation in future editions.
Details of the tournament's launch and opening matches
The tournament kicks off at the Olympic Village stadium, with the opening match pitting the Ministry of Sports branch team from the Makkah region against the Civil Defense team from Jeddah, as part of Group A. On the same day, another important match will take place in Group E, where Al-Ustoura team from Makkah will face Al-Qunfudhah.
Tournament system and group distribution
The tournament draw resulted in the participating teams being divided into two main tracks, one for government teams and the other for amateur league teams, ensuring equal opportunities and a high level of competition in each track. The group distribution was as follows:
Government teams' path:
- Group (A): The Ministry of Sports branch in the Makkah region, the Civil Defense, the Ministry of Education.
- Group (B): The National Guard in the Western Sector, Jeddah Governorate Police, the Royal Guard.
- Group (C): Facilities Security Forces, Security Patrols in Jeddah Governorate, Special Forces for Environmental Security.
- Group (D): Border Guard in the Makkah Region, Diplomatic Security in the Makkah Region, Saudi Aramco.
Amateur League Track:
- Group (E): The hedgehog, the legend, the ambition.
- Group (F): Noor Academy, Salam University, Shabab Al-Ezz.
- Group (G): Al Fursan Stars (Taif), Al Taawon (Jeddah), Al Rasoukh (Jeddah).
- Group (H): Al-Arabi (Jeddah), Al-Widad Al-Taif, United (for former players).
