 | |
| Organising body | Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1957; 68 years ago (1957) |
| Country | Saudi Arabia |
| Confederation | AFC |
| Number of clubs | 18 (since2022–23) |
| Level on pyramid | 2 |
| Promotion to | Saudi Pro League |
| Relegation to | Saudi Second Division League |
| Domestic cup | King's Cup |
| International cup | AFC Champions League Two (via theKing's Cup) |
| Current champions | Neom (1st title) (2024–25) |
| Most championships | Hajer Al-Wehda Al-Qadsiah Al-Jabalain (4 titles each) |
| Top scorer | Ousmane Barry (108 goals) |
| Broadcaster(s) | Thmanyah |
| Website | fdl |
| Current:2025–26 First Division League | |
TheSaudi First Division League (FDL), also known as theYelo League for sponsorship reasons, is a professionalassociation football league inSaudi Arabia and serves as the second tier of theSaudi football league system. It ranks directly below theSaudi Pro League and above theSaudi Second Division League.[1]
The First Division League, originally thought to have been established in 1976, was officially recognized in 2025 as having been founded in 1957, following the findings of the 2023–2025Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) historical documentation project. This revision aligns the league's origins with those of theSaudi Pro League, whose early development occurred in the same era.[2]
Prior to 1976, records of Saudi football competitions were sporadic and poorly archived. In response, a national effort was undertaken to verify and document early league structures. The SAFF project uncovered evidence of organized second-tier competitions dating back to the late 1950s, which were eventually unified and formally structured into what became the First Division.
From the2017–18 season[3] to the2020–21 season, the league was named in honor ofCrown PrinceMohammed bin Salman.
Throughout its history, the league has served as a vital platform for club development and promotion to the top flight. Among its most successful participants,Hajer,Al-Wehda,Al-Qadsiah, andAl-Jabalain each hold four titles—the most in the league’s recorded history.[4]
There are 18 clubs in theFirst Division League. During the course of a season (usually from August to May) each club plays every other club twice (a double round-robin system), once at their home stadium and once at that of their opponents, for 34 games. Teams receive three points for a win and one point for a draw. No points are awarded for a loss.
The top two teams are promoted to theSaudi Pro League directly, aplay-off system to determine the third team to be promoted alongside the two. Teams placed between third and sixth position take part in the promotion play-offs. The fifth-placed would face the fourth, while the sixth-placed team would face the third. The final would be single-legged, hosted by the higher-placed team,[5] while the bottom three teams are relegated to theSaudi Second Division League.
Each club can have a maximum of 25 players and a minimum of 16. The list can include up to 4 foreign players and 1 player born in Saudi Arabia, with the remaining players being all Saudi. Foreign goalkeepers were first allowed during the2017–18 season. However, since the2025–26 season, the goalkeeper position has been restricted exclusively to Saudi players.[6]
For details on the FD League 2025–26 season, seehere.
| Club | Titles | Winning years |
|---|---|---|
| Hajer | 4 | 1966–67, 1979–80, 1987–88, 2013–14 |
| Al-Jabalain | 4 | 1968–69, 1970–71, 1972–73, 1979–80 |
| Al-Wehda | 4 | 1982–83, 1995–96, 2002–03, 2017–18 |
| Al-Qadsiah | 4 | 2001–02, 2008–09, 2014–15, 2023–24 |
| Al-Nahda | 3 | 1976–77, 1990–91, 1992–93 |
| Al-Tai | 3 | 1984–85, 1994–95, 2000–01 |
| Ohod | 3 | 1980–81, 1983–84, 2003–04 |
| Al-Riyadh | 2 | 1977–78, 1988–89 |
| Al-Najma | 2 | 1989–90, 1993–94 |
| Al-Ansar | 2 | 1985–86, 1999–2000 |
| Al-Raed | 2 | 1991–92, 2007–08 |
| Al-Hazem | 2 | 2004–05, 2020–21 |
| Al-Khaleej | 2 | 2005–06, 2021–22 |
| Abha | 2 | 1971–72, 2018–19 |
| Al-Sharq Al-Watani | 2 | 1964–65, 1965–66 |
| Nusoor Al-Hejaz | 2 | 1961–62, 1962–63 |
| Al-Nassr | 1 | 1963–64 |
| Al-Shabab | 1 | 1978–79 |
| Al-Kawkab | 1 | 1986–87 |
| Al-Taawoun | 1 | 1996–97 |
| Sdoos | 1 | 1998–99 |
| Al-Watani | 1 | 2006–07 |
| Al-Faisaly | 1 | 2009–10 |
| Al-Shoulla | 1 | 2011–12 |
| Al-Orobah | 1 | 2012–13 |
| Al-Ettifaq | 1 | 2015–16 |
| Al-Fayha | 1 | 2016–17 |
| Al-Ahli | 1 | 2022–23 |
| Al-Batin | 1 | 2019–20 |
| Neom | 1 | 2024–25 |
| Al-Alamein | 1 | 1957–58 |
| Al-Shatei | 1 | 1958–59 |
| Thaqeef | 1 | 1959–60 |
| Al-Kawakeb | 1 | 1960–61 |
| Al-Tadamon | 1 | 1967–68 |
Sponsorship Names
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