The Saudi Pro League has revealed the criteria and factors it relied on in preparing the match schedule for the 2026-2027 season, ahead of the official announcement.

The season kicks off on August 13 and concludes on May 29, 2027.

The league explained that schedule construction is based on three main factors. The first is adherence to ten criteria that govern the scheduling process. The second factor relies on classifying clubs according to their average results over the last three seasons, with the past season given the most weight in the evaluation. The third factor is related to stadium operational requirements, along with obligations from hosting regional, continental, and international tournaments.

Clubs were classified into four levels (Saudi Pro League)

The league stated that matches this season will be held in three time formats: 25 rounds on weekends, five rounds partially on weekends, and five rounds on weekdays.

It noted that eight clubs will have external commitments during the season. Al-Hilal, Al-Ittihad, Al-Ahli, and Al-Nassr will participate in the AFC Champions League Elite; Al-Taawoun will compete in the AFC Champions League 2; Al-Ettifaq will play in the AFC Gulf Cup; Al-Ahli will also participate in the FIFA Club World Cup; and Al-Ahli will also take part in the Saudi Super Cup.

The criteria took into account clubs' external participations (Saudi Pro League)

The league confirmed that classifying clubs into four levels aims to achieve balance in the sequence of matches, so that no team from the first level faces another team from the same level in two consecutive rounds, limiting the clustering of strong matches over short periods.

It also explained that the schedule preparation process is based on ten main criteria, including achieving competitive balance, adopting a 34-round league system with nine matches per round, and home-and-away fixtures where each team meets all opponents once at home and once away.

It added that the schedule ensures each team plays 17 home matches and 17 away matches, with attention to the sequence of home and away fixtures: if a team plays its first match at home, the second will be away, and vice versa.

Ten criteria adopted by the new schedule (Saudi Pro League)

The criteria also include that no team plays more than two consecutive home matches or more than two consecutive away matches, along with adopting the mirror principle, so that the second half of the season reflects the fixture order of the first half.

The league indicated that home and away matches in the first half will be distributed in a 9-8 or 8-9 ratio per team, with this ratio reversed in the second half, ensuring that each team plays one home and one away in the last two rounds to achieve balance at the end of the season.

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