By Izabella Rekiel
High Five is The Saudi Times’ weekly look at five sports stories, developments and events shaping the Kingdom’s sporting landscape. From emerging talent and grassroots programmes to international stars, technology and homegrown competition, each week we look at what’s happening, why it matters and what to watch next.
1. Kings League MENA powers through half way of season one
Kings League MENA is in the middle of its first full-length league season in the region, with matches taking place at Cool Arena in Boulevard Riyadh City. The season started September 18 and will run through till October 30.
Gerard Pique’s league launched in the MENA region in partnership with SURJ Investment, a subsidiary of PIF. It’s the seventh league in the Kings League portfolio.
The competition features 10 teams led by regional content creators and streamers, combining seven-a-side football with gaming-inspired rules designed to appeal to a digitally engaged audience.
The Saudi Times was present for the league’s seventh matchday on 9 October. The regular season comprises nine matchdays before the knockout stage begins.
Saudi Arabia is represented by three teams DR7, RA2 FC and Rising Peaks. DR7 are the winners of 2025 Riyadh Season Kings League MENA, which was a shortened tournament and previously competed in Milan, Italy, pulling off a major 6-1 upset against the reigning Kings League world champions, Los Troncos FC.RA2 FC and Rising Peaks are newcomers introduced in this first season.
Why it matters: The league offers an alternative way to engage audiences with football, blending live sport, digital entertainment and creator-led communities. Its arrival reflects the diversification of Saudi Arabia’s sports ecosystem and caters to the young demographic who regularly participate in gaming.
What’s next: Matchday 8 takes place on 16 October, followed by the final regular-season round on 23 October. The quarter-finals are scheduled for 26 October, with the semi-finals and final bringing the first full MENA league split to a close on 30 October.
2. Red Bull Gym Clash comes to Riyadh
The fight for the best gym in the world continued in Riyadh on October 9. An international competition hosted by Red Bull, the Gym Clash is an 18 tour stop series that began on February 8 in the Netherlands. The last competition before Riyadh was held in Bahrain on September 25.
Red Bull Gym Clash is a team-based functional fitness competition. Gyms compete through workouts testing strength, endurance, skill and strategy, with teams of four athletes – two male and two female competitors taking on a series of physical challenges.
The Riyadh stop took place at OXYGen in Hittin. The competition moves to Jeddah on 16 October in Arena gym. The national competition provides a pathway for leading gym teams to compete for a place at the global finals which will be held in Egypt.
Why it matters: The event adds another dimension to Saudi Arabia’s sports calendar beyond elite professional leagues and reflects a broader objective of Saudi Vision 2030: encouraging people to adopt healthier lifestyles and increasing community participation in sports and physical activity. By bringing gym teams together in a competitive, accessible format, the event helps build local fitness communities and supports the development of grassroot sport. It also highlights the growing diversity of Saudi Arabia’s sports landscape beyond professional football and major international events.
What’s next: The next national event for Saudi Arabia will be on October 16 in Jeddah. The tour continues with its last stop in Athens, Greece on 10 October. The Egypt World Final will take place with a date to be confirmed between October and November.
3. Saudi Arabia’s cricket team maintains unbeaten run in World Cup qualifying
Saudi Arabia’s national cricket team maintains unbeaten run in the World Cup qualifying. The men’s cricket team continued its strong start at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Asia Sub-Regional Qualifier B in Malaysia, recording three consecutive victories to move to the top of the standings.
The team opened its campaign with a 75-run win over Singapore on 8 October, followed by a three-wicket victory against Malaysia on 9 October. On 11 October, Saudi Arabia defeated Hong Kong, China, by 10 runs, scoring 168/6 before restricting its opponents to 158.Ishtiaq Ahmad was named Player of the Match for taking 4 wickets, including a hat-trick.
Saudi Arabia then beat China by 64 runs on 12 October, strengthening its position in the six-team competition. The qualifier runs from 8 to 14 October in Kuala Lumpur.
Why it matters: The tournament is part of the qualification pathway for the 2028 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. The top three teams in this six-team group advance to the next stage of Asia qualifying in 2027, making every match important to Saudi Arabia’s hopes of progressing.
What’s next: Saudi Arabia’s final scheduled group match is against the Maldives on 14 October. The team will aim to finish the group stage unbeaten and secure its progression in the qualification pathway.
4. FIFAe Finals bring the world’s football gaming elite to Jeddah
The FIFAe Finals 2026 arrive in Jeddah from 16 to 25 October, bringing national teams together to compete for three world titles across eFootball on console, eFootball Mobile and Rocket League. Hosted at Abadi Al Johar Arena, the tournament marks the first time the FIFAe Finals have been held in Jeddah.
More than 120 nations were involved in the qualification campaign for the event. The finals feature 12 national teams in each eFootball competition and 16 in Rocket League, with Saudi Arabia among the participating countries in both eFootball categories.
Why it matters: Hosting the FIFAe Finals reinforces Saudi Arabia’s position in the international esports landscape and connects the Kingdom’s gaming sector with FIFA’s global competition network. It also reflects the wider growth of esports as part of Saudi Arabia’s sports and entertainment economy, creating opportunities for players, event organisers and the local gaming community.
What’s next: The eFootball competitions begin 16 October, with group stages running through 17 October and quarter-finals on 18 October. Rocket League takes centre stage from 20 to 21 October. The new Champions Weekend, from 23 to 25 October, concludes the event and crowns three world champions.
5. We Run Race brings Riyadh’s running community together
Runners – pro and amateur, families and the wider community were brought together by We Run for the We Run Race 2026 on October 26. The event offered three distances : a 10km run for those looking to test their limits, a 5km race open to runners of different levels, and a 1km children’s race for participants aged five to 14.
Participants received a race kit and finisher medal upon completion. The event is powered by Nike Running.
Why it matters: Community running events support one of the wider objectives of Saudi Vision 2030: encouraging healthier lifestyles and increasing participation in physical activity. By offering distances for adults and children. We Run Race creates an opportunity for people of different ages and fitness levels to take part in sport, while helping build a more active community in Riyadh.
What’s next: We Run organises daily group runs to a weekly roster. Two runs a day are scheduled at 4:30am and 7:50pm for all levels.
