2nd edition of Saudi Women’s Premier League to kick off Oct. 13

RIYADH: The second edition of the Saudi Women’s Premier League will kick off on Oct. 13, the Kingdom’s football governing body has revealed.

Announcing the date, Saudi Arabian Football Federation officials said the eight teams taking part in the competition would be Al-Nassr, Al-Hilal, Al-Shabab, Al-Ittihad, Al-Ahli, Eastern Flames, Riyadh Club, and Al-Qadsiah.

A total of 56 matches will be contested in a home and away format over 14 rounds.

Meanwhile, the 30-team First Division — the second tier of Saudi women’s football — will get underway in November with six regional groups also playing in a home and away format.

The winners of each region will progress to a knockout championship contest with the top three teams being promoted to the Saudi Women’s Premier League. The side finishing bottom of the top-flight table will be relegated to the First Division.

Federation chiefs also revealed that the winner of the Women’s Premier League would receive SR2 million ($533,000), with SR1 million going to the second-placed team, and SR600,000 to third.

In the First Division, the team finishing top will get SR500,000, with the runner-up and club in third position banking SR350,000 and SR200,000, respectively.

Al-Nassr were crowned the first ever champions of the Women’s Premier League with 35 points from 11 wins, two draws, and only one loss, while Riyadh Club won the First Division to secure promotion to the top tier.