On Thursday evening, Yemeni stadiums witnessed the return of the Yemeni Premier League football competition for the 2025-2026 season, after a long hiatus of about 12 years due to the war and the security and economic conditions the country has experienced.

The Yemeni Football Association kicked off the season with a "round-robin" system, home and away, involving 14 teams, in a move many consider a new beginning for Yemeni sports.

The opening round featured four matches held in various provinces, where Shabab Al-Bayda faced Hilal Al-Hodeidah at Al-Zurafi Stadium in Sanaa, while Ittihad Ibb hosted Al-Orouba at the Ibb Governorate Stadium.

Fahman Abyan also played against Tadhamon Hadramout in the Mudiyah district, while Sad Mareb played its first-ever match in the club's history in the first division competition.

During the war period, local competitions were limited to short and geographically restricted tournaments, without holding a regular official league that included all Yemeni clubs. Therefore, many observers view the current edition as a historical milestone for rebuilding Yemeni football and restoring the fan presence in stadiums once again.