Clash of the Calendar: Saudi Pro League Grants Rest Days, Reveals Key Derby Dates
6 October 2025
Scheduling decisions shape the 2025-26 campaign
The competitions committee of the Saudi Pro League approved requests from the four clubs taking part in continental competition, adjusting their league schedule around Asian duties. The quartet—Al-Ittihad, Al-Nassr, Al-Hilal, and Al-Ahli—will see tweaks to match days, rest periods, and travel, with aims to protect fairness and fan experience. The approvals followed individual talks with club representatives held last week to finalize dates, venues, and travel plans.
Rest days and one-day adjustments
Al-Hilal, Al-Nassr, and Al-Ahli requested an extra day of rest after continental fixtures, seeking three days off rather than two after AFC Champions League and domestic cup duties; Al-Ittihad secured a one-day adjustment.
Some requests from the quartet were rejected due to venue availability and the need to keep competition fair for all teams.
Six-round schedule and venues announced
Late Sunday, the league published the official timetable for rounds seven through twelve of the 2025-2026 season. The plan balances stadium readiness, ongoing renewals, the clubs’ Asian commitments, and the draw for the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Cup held on September 25.
All games will run within the season’s general calendar, with careful balance to ensure fair play and a strong fan experience. Some matches for Al-Ittihad and Al-Ahli were moved to Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Stadium in Jeddah, and the Riyadh match between Al-Shabab and Al-Qadsiah was shifted to King Fahd Stadium in Riyadh to fit maintenance and travel needs.
Derby dates and logistics
The league also announced the Jeddah derby between Al-Ittihad and Al-Ahli at the Al-Inma Stadium in Jeddah on Friday, November 8, with kickoff at 8:30 PM local time. The Riyadh derby between Al-Hilal and Al-Shabab is set for Friday, October 31, at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, with a 5:50 PM local start.
The cadence of the campaign reflects a hot mix of local battles and continental campaigns, all stitched together to maximize the fans’ experience while respecting logistical realities.
Locally, Al-Nassr leads the table with 12 points, two ahead of Al-Qadsiah (10). Al-Ittihad, Neom, and Taawon sit on nine, while Al-Hilal and Al-Ahli are tied in sixth with eight. Asia-wise, Al-Hilal, under Italian coach Simone Inzaghi, has won its first two group-stage games; Al-Ahli, guided by German coach Matthias Jaissle, has started strongly with a win and a draw, and Al-Ittihad began with mixed results as they chase a brighter continental arc. The season’s balance sheet remains unsettled as teams juggle duties across two fronts.
Two light-hearted notes to end: scheduling is so intricate that even the calendar needs a time-out; and rest days are so generous that fans might consider booking vacation days just to keep up with kickoff times. If calendar chaos were a sport, we’d all be champions by now.
