The Saudi Football Federation has confirmed the draw for the last 16 of the King’s Cup, with no meeting between the country’s leading clubs and no all-top-flight tie in the next round.
Defending champions Al Hilal will face Al Hazem, while Al Nassr have been drawn against Al Kholood, who finished as runners-up in the previous edition of the competition.
The draw also produced separate matches for Jeddah rivals Al Ahli and Al Ittihad. Al Ahli will play AlUla, while Al Ittihad have been paired with Al Jabalain.
The last-16 line-up was completed after the King’s Cup round of 32 was played over the previous three days. A total of 11 clubs from the Roshn Saudi League progressed, alongside five teams from the First Division League.
Two of those five First Division sides will now meet clubs from Jeddah, with AlUla facing Al Ahli and Al Jabalain taking on Al Ittihad. The remaining lower-division teams were not paired against one another in the draw.
The other four fixtures will see Al Qadsiah play NEOM SC, Al Taawoun meet Al Wehda, Al Riyadh face Al Fayha and Al Orubah take on Al Okhdood.
The results mean Al Hilal, Al Nassr, Al Ahli and Al Ittihad have all been placed in different last-16 ties. The draw therefore avoids a direct meeting between the competition’s most prominent sides at this stage, while also keeping the holders and last season’s runners-up apart.
Al Hilal enter the round as the reigning champions and will be expected to overcome Al Hazem, while Al Nassr’s tie against Al Kholood offers the previous finalists a chance to continue their campaigns after advancing from the opening round.
Al Ahli and Al Ittihad, two of the major clubs from Jeddah, will also begin the knockout stage against opposition from outside the Roshn Saudi League. Al Ahli’s opponents AlUla and Al Ittihad’s opponents Al Jabalain are among the five First Division League teams to reach the last 16.
The full King’s Cup last-16 draw is:
– AlUla v Al Ahli
– Al Jabalain v Al Ittihad
– Al Hilal v Al Hazem
– Al Nassr v Al Kholood
– Al Qadsiah v NEOM SC
– Al Taawoun v Al Wehda
– Al Riyadh v Al Fayha
– Al Orubah v Al Okhdood
