Third division league kicks off with 40 teams competing for 4 promotion spots

The Saudi Third Division League for the 2026-2027 season kicked off its inaugural round on Friday and Saturday, featuring 40 teams aiming to secure their spots among the clubs in the Second Division.

Strong results were recorded at the start, with Muneef scoring four goals against Al-Sadd, while Al-Oyoon triumphed over Al-Faw with a score of 3-1. Meanwhile, Bisha and Al-Nahda secured victories with two goals each against Al-Hilaliya and Harimla.

Al-Tuwaik, Al Batin, Al-Watan, and Al-Ulya secured their first victories in the competition, while Al-Majd, the champions of the Kingdom's Fourth Division Clubs Championship, began their journey with a narrow win over Radwa.

The tournament features 40 clubs divided equally into four groups, each consisting of ten teams, with the top team from each group advancing directly to the Second Division.

The team at the bottom of each group faces relegation to the Kingdom's fourth division, presenting teams with a dual challenge of competing for qualification and avoiding demotion.

The current edition includes clubs that have previously participated in the Second Division, such as Bisha, Ahad, Tuwaiq, and Al-Sadd, along with teams that have been promoted from the Fourth Division, which include Al-Uyun, Al-Watan, and Al-Salam, in addition to Al-Majd, the champion of the tournament.

The third division competitions are characterized by closely matched levels and the difficulty of determining the final standings, with the four promotion spots remaining contested until the final stages, as most matches are held weekly on Fridays and Saturdays.