Elite Joy League: Al-Hazm begin title defence as new season kicks off
The 2026-2027 Saudi Under-21 Joy Elite League season begins with 24 clubs competing for the title, starting with Al-Hazm's opening match against Al-Jabalain.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0 / Author: Abodi009
Football fans in Saudi Arabia are gearing up for the 2026-2027 season of the Joy Elite League, the nation's premier Under-21 competition. With 24 clubs in the running, the tournament promises high stakes and intense competition across the board.
Defending champions Al-Hazm start their campaign away to Al-Jabalain. While the title holders struggled for consistency last season before their dramatic knockout run, they will be looking for a comfortable start against an Al-Jabalain side that narrowly avoided relegation last term.
Meanwhile, other giants are eager to make amends for previous shortcomings. Al-Hilal, who finished runners-up in the league phase last season, face newly promoted Al-Faisaly in their opening fixture. Al-Nassr, having endured a disappointing quarter-final exit last year, will have to wait until December to kick off their campaign against another newcomer, Al-Watan.
The league follows a two-stage format, combining a traditional round-robin table with a decisive knockout play-off. This structure proved vital for Al-Hazm last season, as their tactical resilience in the knockout rounds ultimately led them to the trophy.