Young Saudi Fans Watch 10 Hours of Football Weekly

New research published in August 2026 shows that young football fans in Saudi Arabia, aged between 16 and 20, spend on average close to 10 hours a week engaging with football content across digital platforms — a figure that underlines how central the sport has become to youth culture in the Kingdom.

the weekly total breaks down into roughly 3.67 hours watching live matches, 3.31 hours consuming football content on social media, and 3.02 hours playing football video games. This spread shows that following the game is no longer limited to watching 90-minute broadcasts.

Where young fans watch

YouTube leads as the most-used platform, favored by about 70% of respondents, followed by TikTok at around 53%, with Instagram and X each used by roughly 50%. When it comes to viewing habits, 45% prefer a mix of live games and highlights, 36% watch a full match at least once a week, and 19% follow highlights only.

The results sit alongside broader 2026 data showing that video dominates digital consumption in Saudi Arabia, that YouTube is the country's most-used content platform, and that average daily time on social platforms is around three hours — with especially high usage among younger audiences drawn to short-form video and live streaming.

Researchers note, however, that heavy online engagement does not automatically build long-term loyalty to specific clubs or brands. Studies of Saudi university students found strong digital activity around sports but a weak direct link to lasting brand loyalty. Recent academic work also highlights how digitization enables more dispersed and private forms of spectatorship, giving fans — including women — new ways to follow the game and build online communities. For families and clubs alike, the message is clear: reaching young Saudi fans increasingly means meeting them on digital platforms.

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