Kings League MENA

Kings League MENA has brought a new kind of football to Saudi Arabia. Clearly, this is not a traditional league. It mixes seven-a-side football with the personalities of the region's biggest streamers and content creators. This guide covers the format, the teams, the venue, and everything else worth knowing.Important Update: The Tournament Is Live Right NowBefore anything else, one point needs to be clear. Kings League MENA Split 1 is currently underway, running from September 18 to October 30, 2026, in Riyadh. This is the competition's first full length season, so matches are happening on a regular schedule as this guide is being read.Event Details at a GlanceDetailInformationEvent nameKings League MENA, Split 1OrganizerKings League, in partnership with SURJ Sports InvestmentStart dateFriday, September 18, 2026End dateFriday, October 30, 2026VenueCool Arena, RiyadhCityRiyadh, Saudi ArabiaFormatSeven-a-side football, single round-robin phase, 10 teamsNumber of teams10, representing Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Egypt, Morocco, and JordanTicketingAvailable through the Webook platformBroadcastFree via team presidents' channels and official Kick, YouTube, TikTok, and Twitch channels. MBC Action and Shahid also carry the tournament as official media partnerSince this is a live, ongoing tournament, match schedules and standings should be confirmed through the official Kings League MENA website before planning a visit.What Is Kings League MENA?Kings League MENA is the regional version of Kings League, the seven-a-side football competition created by former Barcelona and Spain star Gerard Piqué. Moreover, it was launched through a joint venture between Kings League and SURJ Sports Investment, the sports arm of Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund.The concept was first announced on May 27, 2025. What's more, the league keeps the core Kings League format, including shootout penalties, double goals, president penalties, and wild cards, all adapted with a regional flavor for MENA audiences.A Journey to the FieldThe road to this season was not straightforward. The tournament was originally scheduled to run in Riyadh between March and May 2026, but organizers postponed it, citing the need for a more responsible timeline for teams, creators, and fans. Most importantly, that delay led to the current September to October 2026 window, which now marks the league's first full length season, known as Split 1.Meet the TeamsTen teams are competing in this season, each led by a well known streamer or content creator acting as team president. Here is the full team list by country:Saudi Arabia: DR7, defending regional champion, along with newcomers RA2 FC and Rising PeaksQatar: ABO FCKuwait: FWZEgypt: TurboMorocco: Ultra Chmicha and Bakhira FCJordan: 3BS and Red ZoneAdditionally, some of the region's most followed digital creators sit behind these teams. Saudi creator SHoNgxBoNg brings a following of 27.6 million, while fellow Saudi creator and esports pioneer Drb7h leads DR7. Morocco's Ilyas Elmaliki and Egypt's Tarboun round out some of the tournament's biggest names.How the Competition Works?The format is built around a single round-robin phase. Every one of the 10 teams plays every other team once. Given this structure, final standings after the round-robin decide who advances and how.The top ranked team after the round-robin secures a direct spot in the semi-finals. The remaining three semi-final places are decided through quarter-final playoffs, pairing second against seventh, third against sixth, and fourth against fifth.Opening Round HighlightsThe opening round set the tone for the season. Matches included Ultra Chmicha against Turbo, Rising Peaks against ABO FC, an all Jordanian derby between 3BS and Red Zone, and RA2 FC against Bakhira FC. Clearly, the standout fixture was DR7 against FWZ, a rematch of the 2025 Kings Cup MENA final.Rising Peaks, a new side led by content creator Abdulrahman Al-Shehri, also made an impression on debut, pushing ABO FC to a penalty shootout.Tickets and How to WatchTickets for match nights are sold through the Webook platform. Most importantly, each match night is divided into three viewing sessions, based on Saudi Arabia time:First session: 7:00 pm to 9:00 pmSecond session: 9:00 pm to 11:00 pmThird session: 11:00 pm to 12:00 amFans who cannot attend in person can watch every match for free. Matches stream through the personal channels of the team presidents, as well as the tournament's official channels on Kick, YouTube, TikTok, and Twitch. MBC Group, the tournament's official media partner, also broadcasts matches live across the region through MBC Action and Shahid.Why This Tournament Matters?Kings League MENA gives the region its own stage within a global football format that has already built a large following worldwide. Given the mix of football and content creator culture, it draws in fans who might not usually follow a traditional league.Beyond the matches themselves, strong performance in this competition opens doors. Top teams from Kings League MENA can qualify for the Kings World Cup Clubs, and standout individual players can go on to represent their nations at the Kings World Cup Nations.Planning Your VisitA few practical points worth keeping in mind:Check the official Kings League MENA website for the latest fixture list, since the season runs on a rolling schedule through October 30Book tickets through Webook only, and choose the viewing session that matches your scheduleIf attending in person is not possible, matches are available for free across several streaming platformsFollow team president channels directly for behind the scenes content and match previewsFinal ThoughtsKings League MENA Split 1 is currently live in Riyadh, running from September 18 to October 30, 2026, with 10 teams from six countries competing in a fresh take on seven-a-side football. After an earlier postponement, the league has now launched its first full length season, backed by some of the region's biggest streaming names and a strong broadcast partnership through MBC Group.