Al-Midan Al-Riyadi presents its readers with the schedule of matches for Friday, February 13, 2026, a day packed with football action both locally and internationally. Attention is particularly focused on Saudi Arabian stadiums, which will host high-profile matches in the Saudi Professional League, in addition to crucial games in major European leagues and the English FA Cup.

Saudi Roshan League: The battle of the giants heats up

Today's matches in the Roshan League are of paramount importance due to their mid-season timing, as teams strive to improve their positions in the standings. This evening features three crucial encounters that could shape the title race and determine which teams will secure Asian Champions League spots

• Al-Shabab vs. Al-Ahli (4:55 PM): A highly anticipated classic match pits the capital's "Lions" against "Royal." Matches between these two teams are always fiercely contested and generate a huge fan turnout, with each side striving to assert dominance and claim the three points.
• Al-Hilal vs. Al-Ettifaq (6:25 PM): Al-Hilal, the "Leader," hosts Al-Ettifaq in a highly tactical match. Al-Hilal, with its star-studded squad, faces the ambition of the "Captains," who are eager to cause an upset and derail Al-Hilal's winning streak.
• Al-Ittihad vs. Al-Fayha (8:30 PM): “Al-Ittihad” concludes tonight’s matches with a match against Al-Fayha in Jeddah, amid expectations of a large crowd to support the Tigers in their quest for victory.

European stadiums: The excitement of cups and leagues

On the European level, the excitement is no less significant, with competitions ranging from the prestige of the English FA Cup to the strength of the Italian and German leagues:

• FA Cup: Chelsea travel to Hull City for a tough away match at 10:45 PM. This prestigious competition, the oldest in football history, offers top clubs a chance to turn things around or add another trophy to their collection.
• Italian League: In a notable encounter, Pisa will face AC Milan at 10:45 PM. The Rossoneri will be looking to reaffirm their historical dominance, while the home side will be aiming to capitalize on home advantage.
• German League: Borussia Dortmund will face Mainz at 10:30 PM, in an emotional and competitive match given the shared history between the two clubs and the attacking football they both play.

Yellow Division One League: The Battle for Promotion

Away from the bright lights, the Yellow League stadiums witness football battles of no less importance, as clubs compete for the dream of promotion to the top league:

• Al Jabalain vs Al Jandal (4:00 PM): A mini northern derby with a challenging theme.
• Al-Raed vs. Al-Arabi (6:35 PM): A tough match in which Al-Raed seeks to regain its brilliance and confirm its worthiness to compete.

The variety of matches today, ranging from local derbies to European clashes, makes this Friday a packed day of football that cannot be missed by sports fans.

Saudi Arabian athletes continued to make sporting history, delivering a remarkable performance on the eighth day of the 2026 Asian Road Cycling , hosted by the Qassim region. The competition witnessed a brilliant Saudi showing in the Paralympic races, with cyclists winning a diverse array of medals, further solidifying the Kingdom's growing prominence on the continental sporting map.

Gold and silver achievements in Paralympic races

Manahi bin Labdah took center stage in today's competitions, ascending the podium as the champion crowned with the gold medal in the (MH1) category, after delivering an exceptional performance that he finished with a time of 44:28 minutes, capturing attention and confirming his worthiness of first place.

The Saudi harvest didn't stop at gold; it extended to silver and bronze as the Saudi team continued its success in the T-class categories. Cyclist Fahad Al-Dosari secured the silver medal in the T1 category, completing the race in 26 minutes and 11 seconds, while his teammate Fawaz Al-Fawaz , winning silver in the T2 category with a time of 24 minutes and 52 seconds.

In women's sports, champion Raneem Al-Furaidi to present a distinguished image of Saudi women, winning the silver medal in the WT1 category with a time of 35:35 minutes. In the MC1 category, cyclist Mohammed Al-Marri another silver medal to the Saudi tally, while his teammate Abbas Al-Hashem the bronze in the same category. Rider Rashid Al-Ahmari the day's medal haul with a bronze in the MC3 category with a time of 49:11 minutes.

Al-Qassim: A global sports destination

The hosting of the 2026 Asian Cycling Championships in the Qassim region is part of the Kingdom's significant sporting development. The region has demonstrated its readiness to host major continental events thanks to its advanced infrastructure and terrain, which is well-suited to road cycling. This event also presents an opportunity to showcase the region's tourist attractions and cultural landmarks to the participating Asian delegations.

Supporting leadership and empowering heroes

These outstanding results in Paralympic races reflect the unwavering support provided by the wise leadership to the sports sector within the framework of the Kingdom's Vision 2030 , specifically the Quality of Life Program, which aims to empower Saudi athletes, including those with disabilities, to compete on the international stage. This remarkable improvement in the level of Saudi cyclists confirms the success of the Saudi Cycling Federation's strategic plans in discovering and developing talent.

All eyes are now on the final day of the tournament tomorrow, with high hopes that the Kingdom's champions will continue this strong momentum and add more achievements to the impressive record of Saudi sports.

At first glance, the overall picture in the Saudi Professional League might seem alarming to some, especially when it comes to Al-Hilal. With every step the club takes, whether it's climbing the standings, securing new signings, or clinching victories, a feeling takes root among its rivals that the path is clearer for them than for anyone else. This leads to a buildup of controversial questions: Has Al-Hilal become bigger than the league itself? Has the balance of competitive fairness been disrupted? Has the competition become merely a facade devoid of real substance? These are legitimate questions on the surface, provocative in their timing, and they are raised forcefully whenever Al-Hilal dons its usual mantle of leadership.

General context and development of the sports project

This controversy comes at a time when Saudi Arabia is undergoing a historic transformation in its sports sector, as part of Vision 2030, with the Saudi League becoming a global destination attracting top football stars. This dramatic shift has raised expectations and intensified competition, placing any club's dominance under intense scrutiny. Amidst this dynamism, the potential transfer of global star Karim Benzema to Al-Hilal has reignited questions, with some viewing this high-profile deal as evidence of favoritism or double standards.

The reality of the situation and the reactions

The matter didn't stop at mere fan or media analysis; it extended to public discontent from other league stars, most notably the legendary Cristiano Ronaldo, as if Al-Hilal had committed a sin by boldly strengthening its squad. In this charged atmosphere, Al-Hilal became the accused not for breaking the rules, but for mastering the art of playing within them. It was accused for possessing the administrative and financial capabilities, and for quietly succeeding while others merely shout. Herein lies a strange paradox: it seems the league needs to rein in Al-Hilal instead of working to develop its rivals to catch up.

Self-financing and refuting the accusations

However, upon pausing to analyze the facts, the narrative against Al-Hilal crumbles. When the league confirmed that the Benzema deal was financed from Al-Hilal's own resources, not from the central recruitment program, the first and most important pillar of the accusation collapsed. And when it became clear that Al-Hilal did not demand special treatment, did not resort to fan pressure tactics, and did not invoke the usual victimhood narrative, the truth emerged simpler than portrayed: we are dealing with a club that planned meticulously, invested wisely, and made a courageous decision.

Administrative stability is the secret to success

The real challenge lies not in Al-Hilal's on-field dominance, but in the fundamental question many overlook: Why does Al-Hilal succeed where others fail? Why do its signings become a harmonious system, while for others they become a technical and financial burden? The answer lies in the fact that Al-Hilal doesn't need a single star to "lead the project," because the project at Al-Hilal is driven by stable institutional work. Al-Hilal doesn't appear superior to the competition because it's pampered, as some claim, but because it's administratively and technically disciplined. It's not because it's above the system, but because it operates within it intelligently and professionally.

In the end, this argument, which may seem provocative to some, is not intended to defend Al-Hilal as much as it is intended to be a mirror reflecting a reality that some do not want to see; which is that Al-Hilal did not shorten the road to glory, but rather memorized its contours well, and that the problem was never with a club that was accustomed to winning, but rather with competitors who are still looking for a scapegoat for mistakes instead of fixing themselves.