NEOM SC and Al Qadsiah clash in battle of RSL's next contenders | OneFootball

The dynamics of the Roshn Saudi League are changing before our very eyes.

For so long, the league has had what was perpetually referred to as a “Big Four”, that being Al Hilal, Al Ittihad, Al Nassr and Al Ahli.

While other clubs have triumphed, the likes of Al Shabab in 2011-12 and remarkably, Al Fateh the following season, the league has for the most part been dominated by the quartet of clubs from Riyadh and Jeddah.

But now the “Big Four” have company.

Al Qadsiah are by no means a new club in the landscape of Saudi football, having been founded in 1967 and fluctuated in and out of the RSL during the past two decades.

But, having won promotion to return to the top flight last season, it was a revamped Al Qadsiah that emerged to shake up the league.

There was a new logo, new identity, new stars and a new vision. It may not have been an emerging outfit, but it almost felt like that such was the change from what existed before.

Arguably, the “Big Four” then became a “Big Five” as Al Qadsiah finished fourth in their inaugural campaign under their fresh guise.

Well, that landscape is shifting once again with the arrival of NEOM Sports Club into the RSL this season, the Tabuk side emerging as another threat to the established powers. Clearly, they possess lofty ambitions and a thirst for almost-immediate success.

Quite plausibly, the four that became a five could now be considered a six.

On Sunday, the two developing heavyweights of the league will meet for the first time, when Al Qadsiah make the almost 1400-kilometre journey to the north-west of the Kingdom for a clash between the sides who entered the RSL’s resumption this week placed second and fourth in the table.

The highest of the two heading into Matchweek 5, Al Qadsiah arrive in Tabuk as a genuine title contender - and perhaps something of a template for NEOM SC to follow as they look to establish their own foothold in the RSL.

The success of Al Qadsiah last term was built on the back of the league’s best defence, marshalled by one of their headline signings in former Real Madrid captain, Nacho. In 34 rounds, the club conceded 31 goals.

With also the division’s most lethal strike partnership of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Julian Quinones, who netted 37 times between them, Al Qadsiah had struck the right balance of attack and defence for a team that was, largely, put together merely a month or two before the campaign.

Keeping the core of last season’s side together, this summer Al Qadsiah added firepower and depth to their squad, with the marquee signing being last year’s Serie A golden boot winner, Mateo Retegui.

There’s also been German Julian Weigl, Portuguese international Otavio from Al Nassr, while domestically Michel’s side has been supplemented with real quality in the form of the 2024-25 RSL’s best young player, Musab Al Juwayr, and experience in the hugely decorated Yasser Al Shahrani.

After another summer of shrewd investment, Al Qadsiah are now as well placed as any for a tilt at the title and so will prove a good early test for NEOM SC, who are hoping to extend their run of three straight wins following defeat on debut to a potential “Big Six” rival, Al Ahli.

When it comes to building their squad, NEOM SC have not only looked at the 2025-26 campaign, but seemingly to many seasons ahead, given the age profile of so many of their recruits.

Foreign stars such as Saimon Bouabre, Nathan Zeze, Luciano Rodríguez, and Amadou Kone are all 22 or under, mixed in with experienced heads like Ahmed Hegazy - a former Saudi champion with Al Ittihad - Said Benrahma, Abdoulaye Doucoure and, of course, Alexandre Lacazette.

If successful, it sets NEOM SC up not just for serious progress this season, but mostly likely for years to come when the RSL will no doubt continue to evolve.

Because, while Al Qadsiah and NEOM SC are the latest inductees to the top table, there are more clubs in the pipeline.

Expect Al Ula and Al Diriyah, like NEOM SC, clubs now incorporated within their respective mega projects, to be the next clubs to emerge - as early as next year should both win promotion this season. Could they follow in the trail blazed by Al Qadsiah and hot on the heels of NEOM SC?

And let’s not discount the likes of Al Shabab, the venerable capital club who search for a return to their glory days. Undeniably, it heralds another bold new future for Saudi football.