Saudi Football Adds Youth Leagues for 2034 World Cup

Saudi Arabia's football federation has expanded its youth competitions with new age groups and a revised structure aimed at developing players well ahead of the 2034 World Cup. The changes add U-5, U-7 and U-9 categories, while age groups from U-11 to U-14 continue within a reworked city and regional league system.

The youngest new groups will play in a centralized festival format within their own cities. The federation says this approach reduces travel for children and families while increasing the number of matches each player gets. Overall, the youth competition system now runs all the way up to U-21.

Clubs and players joining the new season must complete three official steps: obtaining a sports license, securing federation membership, and confirming participation on the MySaff platform. The deadline set for completing licensing and membership procedures for the new season was 13 August.

A longer-term development plan

The updates are part of a broader youth-competition project that began in the 2024–2025 season and runs through 2033–2034. Under the plan, the U-13 Saudi League is being reshaped into regional championships for ages 11–14, alongside festivals for ages 7–10. The number of clubs in the U-17 and U-18 First Division Leagues has also increased to 18 teams each, starting from the 2024–2025 season.

For families across the Kingdom, the expansion means more organized opportunities for young players to compete close to home, with a clearer pathway from early childhood football into the higher youth levels. As the country prepares to host the 2034 World Cup, building a strong base of local talent has become a central goal of the federation's youth strategy.

---

Stay updated with the latest news, events, sports updates, business insights, real estate and lifestyle stories on Saudi Living — the leading online platform for residents, expats, and visitors in Saudi Arabia.

Follow Saudi Living for daily updates:

• Instagram - @saudiliving
• X - @saudiliving
• Facebook - @saudiliving
• YouTube - @saudiliving