RIYADH — The Saudi Pro League title race is officially heading for a dramatic final-day finish after the Saudi Pro League confirmed the Matchweek 34 schedule for the 2025-26 season on Wednesday.
With the championship, AFC Champions League Elite qualification spots and relegation battle all still alive, the SPL announced that all decisive fixtures will kick off simultaneously on Thursday, May 21, to preserve sporting integrity and competitive fairness.
The final round will be split across two days — May 20 and 21 — following what the league described as a comprehensive assessment of the standings and all remaining competitive scenarios.
The league said the scheduling decision was made through its Competitions Department to ensure “the highest standards of sporting fairness and operational excellence” during the closing stages of the season.
The move comes after Tuesday night’s chaotic Capital Derby, where Al Nassr conceded a dramatic 98th-minute equalizer against Al Hilal, delaying what looked set to be a title-clinching victory for Cristiano Ronaldo and his teammates.
Al Nassr remain five points clear at the top, although Al Hilal still have a game in hand that could reduce the gap to just two points and force the title race into the final day.
Alongside the battle for the league crown, the race for continental qualification also remains wide open, with Al Ittihad, Al Taawoun and Al Ettifaq all fighting for a top-five finish and a place in next season’s AFC Champions League Elite.
At the bottom of the table, the relegation battle is equally tense.
Damac FC and Al Riyadh enter the closing stretch level on 26 points, with only one relegation spot left to be decided.
Meanwhile, the matches between Al Khaleej and Al Ahli, and Al Najmah against Al Shabab, will be played on Wednesday, May 20, as their outcomes will not directly affect decisive league positions.
The SPL said the scheduling plan reflects its continued push to elevate the league’s competitiveness and global profile during what has already become one of the most dramatic seasons in recent Saudi football history.
Source: Saudi Gazette