Jeddah football history: From neighborhood pitches to major stadiums

Jeddah has a long-standing history as a central hub for football in Saudi Arabia, evolving from neighborhood street matches to hosting major international sporting events.

Key historical milestones include the establishment of Al-Sabban Stadium in 1950 in the Al-Qurayyat neighborhood, which served as the Kingdom’s first official sports stadium with a capacity of 12,000. The venue hosted the first King’s Cup final in 1381 AH and famously hosted the Brazilian team Santos, led by Pelé, for an exhibition training session in 1973.

Other significant venues include the Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Stadium, originally known as the Jeddah Youth Care Stadium, which opened in 1970. Following extensive redevelopment starting in 2012, it reopened in 2021 with a capacity exceeding 27,000. Additionally, King Abdullah Sports City, opened in 2014, has become one of the largest sports cities in the Kingdom, accommodating over 62,000 spectators for local and international competitions. The city is also set to host the Arabian Gulf Cup for the first time.