Football in Saudi Arabia

The 2018 FIFA World Cup was the 21st FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial world championship for national football teams organized by FIFA. It took place in Russia from 14 June to 15 July 2018, after the country was awarded the hosting rights in 2010. It was the eleventh time the championships had been held in Europe, and the first time they were held in Eastern Europe. At an estimated cost of over $14.2 billion, it was the most expensive World Cup ever held until it was surpassed by the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

The Saudi Arabia national football team represents Saudi Arabia in men's international football. They are known as Al-Suqour Al-Khodhur in reference to their traditional colours of green and white and represent both FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).

The AFC Asian Cup is the primary association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), determining the continental champion of Asia. It is the second oldest continental football championship in the world after Copa América. The winning team becomes the champion of Asia and until 2015 qualified for the FIFA Confederations Cup.

The FIFA World Cup, often simply called the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested among the senior men's national teams of the 211 members by the sport's global governing body - Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA). The tournament has been held every four years since the inaugural tournament in 1930, except in 1942 and 1946 when it was not held because of the Second World War. The reigning champions are Argentina, who won their third title at the 2022 tournament.

The 1994 FIFA World Cup was the 15th FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national soccer teams. It was hosted by the United States and took place from June 17 to July 17, 1994, at nine venues across the country. The United States was chosen as the host by FIFA on July 4, 1988. Despite soccer's relative lack of popularity in the host nation, the tournament was the most financially successful in World Cup history. It broke tournament records with overall attendance of 3,587,538 and an average of 68,991 per game, marks that stood unsurpassed as of 2022 despite the expansion of the competition from 24 to 32 teams starting with the 1998 World Cup.

The 1998 FIFA World Cup was the 16th FIFA World Cup, the football world championship for men's national teams. The finals tournament was held in France from 10 June to 12 July 1998. The country was chosen as the host nation by FIFA for the second time in the history of the tournament, defeating Morocco in the bidding process. It was the second time that France staged the competition and the ninth time that it was held in Europe. Spanning 32 days, it is the longest World Cup tournament ever held.

The 2002 FIFA World Cup, also branded as Korea Japan 2002, was the 17th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial football world championship for men's national teams organized by FIFA. It was held from 31 May to 30 June 2002 at sites in South Korea and Japan, with its final match hosted by Japan at International Stadium in Yokohama.

The 2006 FIFA World Cup, also branded as Germany 2006, was the 18th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 9 June to 9 July 2006 in Germany, which had won the right to host the event in July 2000. Teams representing 198 national football associations from all six populated continents participated in the qualification process which began in September 2003. Thirty-one teams qualified from this process along with hosts Germany for the finals tournament. It was the second time that Germany staged the competition and the first as a unified country along with the former East Germany with Leipzig as a host city, and the 10th time that the tournament was held in Europe.

The 2022 FIFA World Cup was an international football tournament contested by the men's national teams of FIFA's member associations and 22nd edition of the FIFA World Cup. It took place in Qatar from 20 November to 18 December 2022, making it the first World Cup held in the Arab world and Muslim world, and the second held entirely in Asia after the 2002 tournament in South Korea and Japan.

The Saudi Pro League, known as the Roshn Saudi League for sponsorship reasons, is the top division of association football in the Saudi Arabian league system. It has been operating as a round-robin tournament from it inaugural season until the 1989–90 season, after that the Saudi Federation decided to merge the football League with the King's Cup in one tournament and the addition of the Golden Box. The Golden Box would be an end of season knockout competition played between the top four teams of the regular league season. These teams would play at a semi-final stage to crown the champions of Saudi Arabia. The league reverted to a round-robin system in the 2007–08 season.

The 1985 Afro-Asian Cup of Nations was the second edition of the Afro-Asian Cup of Nations, it was contested by Cameroon, winners of the 1984 African Cup of Nations, and Saudi Arabia, winners of the 1984 AFC Asian Cup. Cameroon won on aggregate over the two legs. This edition were helds after the 1978 edition between Ghana and Iran which was normally the first edition one, however it was cancelled after the 1st leg.

The 1985 Afro-Asian Cup of Nations was the second edition of the Afro-Asian Cup of Nations, it was contested by Cameroon, winners of the 1984 African Cup of Nations, and Saudi Arabia, winners of the 1984 AFC Asian Cup. Cameroon won on aggregate over the two legs. This edition were helds after the 1978 edition between Ghana and Iran which was normally the first edition one, however it was cancelled after the 1st leg.

The Saudi Pro League, known as the Roshn Saudi League for sponsorship reasons, is the top division of association football in the Saudi Arabian league system. It has been operating as a round-robin tournament from it inaugural season until the 1989–90 season, after that the Saudi Federation decided to merge the football League with the King's Cup in one tournament and the addition of the Golden Box. The Golden Box would be an end of season knockout competition played between the top four teams of the regular league season. These teams would play at a semi-final stage to crown the champions of Saudi Arabia. The league reverted to a round-robin system in the 2007–08 season.

Al-Hilal Saudi Football Club, simply known as Al-Hilal, is a professional multi-sports club based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Their football team competes in the Saudi Professional League. They are the most decorated club in Asia winning 65 official trophies. They also hold the record for the most continental trophies in Asia, as well as a record 18 Professional League titles.

Al-Nassr Football Club is a Saudi Arabian football club based in Riyadh. Formed in 1955, the club plays its home games at the Mrsool Park. Their home colours are yellow and blue.

Al Ettifaq Football Club is a professional football club in Dammam, Saudi Arabia. Al-Ettifaq was established after the merging of three clubs in the city of Dammam at the year 1944. Al Ettifaq is the first Saudi team to win an international title – the 1984 Arab Club Champions Cup. Al Ettifaq is also the first team to win the Saudi Premier League without any defeat. Al Ettifaq is also the first side from Saudi Arabia to win the GCC Champions League. Al Ettifaq have a total of 13 different titles to their name. The Club also has its own futsal section.

King Abdullah Sports City, also nicknamed The Shining Jewel or simply The Jewel, is a multi-use stadium and sports city located 30 kilometers north of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The City was named after Abdullah, King of Saudi Arabia when the stadium opened.

Jeddah, alternatively transliterated as Jedda, Jiddah or Jidda, is a city in the Hejaz region of western Saudi Arabia and the country's commercial center. It is not known when Jeddah was founded, but Jeddah's prominence grew in 647 when the Caliph Uthman made it a travel hub serving Muslim travelers going for Islamic pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca. Since those times, Jeddah has served as the gateway for millions of pilgrims who have arrived in Saudi Arabia, traditionally by sea and recently by air. With a population of about 4,697,000 people as of 2021, Jeddah is the largest city in Makkah Province, the largest city in Hejaz, the second-largest city in the Saudi Arabia, and the ninth-largest in the Middle East. It also serves as the administrative centre of the OIC. Jeddah Islamic Port, on the Red Sea, is the thirty-sixth largest seaport in the world and the second-largest and second-busiest seaport in the Middle East.

Al-Ittihad Saudi Arabian Club, simply known as Al-Ittihad and also referred to as Ittihad Jeddah, is a professional football club based in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, founded in 1927. The club spent its entire history in the top flight of football in Saudi Arabia, the Saudi Professional League, and is the second most decorated club in Saudi Arabia. Ittihad means "union" in Arabic.

The King Abdulaziz Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, the holy capital. It is the largest stadium in Mecca and is currently used mainly for football matches. The stadium holds 38,000 people, and is the home ground of Al-Wehda. The stadium was temporarily used by Jeddah clubs Al-Ittihad and Al-Ahli due to stadiums in Jeddah undergoing construction, and given the proximity.

The Al-Batin Club Stadium is a multi-use stadium in Hafar al-Batin, Saudi Arabia. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home stadium of Al-Batin. The stadium has a capacity of 6,000 seats. It was opened in April 2016.

Al-Bukiryah Club Stadium is a multi-use stadium in Al Bukayriyah, Saudi Arabia. It is currently used mostly for football matches, on club level by Al-Bukiryah FC.

Al Hazm Club Stadium is a multi-use stadium in Ar Rass, Saudi Arabia. It is currently used mostly for football matches.

Al Majma'ah Sports City is a multi-purpose stadium in Al Majma'ah, Saudi Arabia. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home stadium of Al-Faisaly, Al-Fayha and Al-Mujazzal. The stadium has a seating capacity of 7,000.

Al-Najma Club Stadium is a multi-use stadium in Unaizah, Saudi Arabia. It is currently used mostly for football matches, on club level by Al-Najma. The stadium has a capacity of 3,000

Al-Shoulla Stadium is a multi-use stadium in Al-Kharj, Saudi Arabia. It is currently used mostly for football matches, on club level by Al-Shoulla of the Saudi Professional League. The stadium has a capacity of 8,000.

Department of Education Stadium is a multi-use stadium in Unaizah, Saudi Arabia. It is currently used mostly for football matches. The stadium holds 10,000 people and opened on 1 March 1987. It is hosts the home matches of Al-Arabi, and the architect was Malaysian Architect of the Year Award-winner, Michael KC Cheah.

Nawaf Bander Nawaf Al-Temyat is a Saudi Arabian former footballer who played as a midfielder.

Al-Hilal Saudi Football Club, simply known as Al-Hilal, is a professional multi-sports club based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Their football team competes in the Saudi Professional League. They are the most decorated club in Asia winning 65 official trophies. They also hold the record for the most continental trophies in Asia, as well as a record 18 Professional League titles.

Hamad Al-Montashari is a Saudi Arabian footballer for Al-Ittihad. Al-Montashari, a central defender, was declared the 2005 Asian Football Player of the Year, defeating Uzbekistan and FC Dynamo Kyiv striker Maksim Shatskikh . With Al-Ittihad, Al-Montashari won the 2004 and 2005 AFC Champions Leagues. On June 1, 2007 in the 2006–07 Saudi Premier League final, Al-Montashari scored a last minute winning goal for Al-Ittihad that gave them their 7th league title. He is considered to be one of Ittihad's longest tenured players.

Yasser Saeed Al-Qahtani is a former Saudi footballer who played as a forward for Al-Hilal FC in the Saudi Professional League. He was also captain of the Saudi Arabia national team. Yasser is widely recognized as one of the greatest Saudi footballers of the 21st century.