Saudi King's Cup Semifinals Set: Ahli vs Hilal Sparks, Ittihad Faces Al-Khulood

Semifinals schedule revealed

The Saudi Football Federation’s Competitions Committee has unveiled the schedule for the King Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Cup semifinals. Al-Ahli will clash with Al-Hilal in a fiery derby, while Ittihad faces Al-Khulood in the other semi-final—two tantalizing tests for a trophy that always brings drama.

Al-Ahli reached this stage after overcoming Al-Qadisiyah on penalties, in a match marked by excitement and edge until the final minutes. In contrast, Al-Hilal advanced with a strong performance that culminated in a 4-1 victory over Al-Fateh.

In the other half of the bracket, Ittihad edged Nasr 2-1 in a thrilling encounter, and Al-Khulood continued its eye-catching run by defeating Al-Khaleej 4-3 to set up a date with the mighty Jeddah giants.

Dates, venues and kick-off times

The Ittihad–Al-Khulood semi-final is scheduled for March 16 at the Al-Hazm Stadium, with kick-off at 22:00 Mecca time. The Ahli–Hilal semi-final will follow on March 17 at 22:00 local time, at the Al-Inma Stadium.

Notably, Al-Ittihad are the defending champions, having beaten Al-Qadisiyah in last year’s final, 3-1.

Defending champions and context

These semifinals set the stage for a potential title defense by Ittihad, who will aim to replicate or improve on last season’s success as the competition advances toward a climactic finale.

Punchline 1: If football were a math test, these semis would be a win for everyone who loves a good equalizer and a dramatic penalty shootout. Punchline 2: My bracket is so confident it brought a scarf, sunglasses, and a tiny trophy to the couch. It’s ready for kickoff, apparently.