Mahd Academy Opens Football Tryouts in 16 Saudi Cities

Mahd Sports Academy has opened nationwide football tryouts across 16 Saudi cities, running from September through December 2026. The tryouts are aimed at boys born between 2013 and 2017, giving young players from across the Kingdom a chance to be scouted for talent development.

The 16 host cities are Abha, Makkah, Tabuk, Jazan, Hail, Qassim, Hafr Al-Batin, Al-Baha, Madinah, Arar, Yanbu, Najran, Sakaka, Wadi Al-Dawasir, Taif, and Al-Kharj. Registration is open online through mahd.gov.sa/try-outs. No fee or payment requirement was listed for the tryouts.

Eligibility is open to Saudi citizens, children of Saudi mothers, and Saudi-born residents. Football registration is for boys only.

How the process works

The academy's admissions pathway begins with registration or nomination, followed by an invitation to attend. Selected candidates then go through a one-day first tryout and a one-week second tryout. Those who pass move to an initial acceptance phase lasting between one week and one month, and finally enter a full season of sports development spanning ten months.

The wide geographic spread means families in smaller cities and regions—not only the major hubs—can put their children forward without traveling far. For many parents in Riyadh, Jeddah, and beyond, the drive to build structured pathways for young athletes reflects the broader push to grow homegrown sporting talent across the Kingdom.

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