Inside Saudi's Own Version Of El Clasico: Crossing The Great Cultural Divide

Only a handful of matches in the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) region get the juices flowing quite like the Saudi Clasico, featuring Al-Ittihad, the country's oldest surviving football club, and Al-Hilal, the most decorated team in the Kingdom. I was fortunate enough to witness this rivalry on the Saudi Foundation Day celebrated every year on February 22. The Tigers, Al-Ittihad, represent the port city of Jeddah, while the Blue Waves, Al-Hilal, are based more than 1,000 km away in Riyadh, the capital of the Saudi Kingdom.

"We (Jeddah) are for the people. They (Riyadh) represent the elites," said Nawaf, an Ittihad fan who works as a security guard.

These sentiments were echoed by each and every Ittihad fan that I came across.

"Hilal is like Real Madrid. We win everything here so they are jealous of us," said a member of the Al-Hilal Ultras, who chose not to reveal his identity.

The rivalry between Ittihad and Hilal might not be as historic as the Old Firm Derby between Scottish giants Rangers and Celtic, but for the fans in the Kingdom, it is that and more.

One would have to go back to 1962 for the first-ever meeting between these two sides. Their rivalry is built on history, success, passion, and civic pride between two competing cities.

They are first and second for the number of Saudi titles won; Al Hilal's tally of 18 is double that of Ittihad.

Even in Asia, Hilal and Ittihad are the only Saudi clubs to lift the coveted AFC Champions League title. While the Blue Waves again have double the trophies of their Jeddah counterparts, Al Ittihad can claim to have something Al Hilal has never managed - back-to-back AFC Asian Champions League triumphs.

Only rarely is the Saudi Clasico an irrelevance, and these days the