The King's Cup accounts officially unveiled on Friday the final and anticipated dates for the semi-final matches of the current edition of the most prestigious local tournament, which is witnessing fierce competition between the top Saudi clubs and the ambitions of the rising clubs.
Match dates and host stadiums
-Kholoud will open the matches of this round by hosting Al- Ittihad , at 10:00 PM on Monday, March 16, 2026. The match will be held at Al-Hazm Club Stadium in Al-Rass, where Al-Kholoud will seek to take advantage of the home ground and the fans to achieve a resounding surprise against Al-Ittihad.
In the highlight match of this round, all eyes will be on Jeddah, where Al- Ahli their arch-rivals Al-Hilal in the highly anticipated Saudi Arabian football classic. Kick-off is scheduled for 10:00 PM on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium (The Shining Jewel), in a match where there is no room for error.
The teams' journey towards the Golden Square
The path to the semi-finals was far from easy for the four teams. Al-Kholoud secured their place after a major upset, eliminating Al-Khaleej, while Al-Ittihad overcame Al-Shabab in a highly tactical match. Meanwhile, Al-Ahli narrowly clinched their qualification after defeating Al-Qadisiyah on penalties, and Al-Hilal continued their impressive run by eliminating Al-Fateh to reach this advanced stage.
The importance of the tournament and the historical context
The King's Cup holds exceptional importance in the Saudi sports scene, not only because it is the oldest tournament, dating back to 1957, but also because it bears the name of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, making winning the title a great honor for any club. This edition is a continuation of the tremendous development Saudi football is witnessing, with the attraction of international stars, which raises the technical and marketing value of the matches, especially in the knockout stages.
Sports fans, both locally and across the Arab world, eagerly anticipate the "Clásico" between Al-Hilal and Al-Ahli, given the long history of rivalry between the two clubs. Al-Hilal aims to extend its record number of titles, while Al-Ahli hopes to reclaim its former glory in its historically favorite competition. The fact that Al-Ittihad and Al-Kholoud have reached this stage also presents an opportunity to showcase the growing competitiveness of the Saudi Professional League.
