Brazilian broadcaster Xsports has unveiled a package of rights to soccer’s Saudi Pro League (SPL) for the next three seasons.
Through a deal publicly announced late last week, Xsports will air two live matches per round from the 18-team league, across the 2026-27, 2027-28, and 2028-29 seasons.
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This news comes with the 2026-27 SPL set to get underway on August 13, while the first game to be shown live by Xsports will be the clash between Al-Riyadh and Al-Nassr (last season’s SPL champions) on August 21.
There are currently 16 Brazilians contracted to SPL sides, including well-known players like Fabinho and Roger Ibanez.
The time difference between the two countries’ capitals is 6 hours, meaning games played in the evening local time will be viewable around mid-afternoon for Brazilian audiences.
Thiago Garcia, Xsports’ vice president of marketing and planning, commented: "The arrival of the Saudi Pro League on our channel represents a strategic step in the expansion of our programming.
“Saudi football has been attracting interest from fans around the world, and broadcasting two live matches per round, exclusively on free-to-air TV, further strengthens Xsports' position as a benchmark in major sports broadcasts.”
For Xsports – which only officially launched last August – the addition of SPL rights enhances a soccer rights portfolio that already includes a package of games from France’s top-tier Ligue 1, as well as action from Germany’s Bundesliga and – domestically – Brazil’s second tier.
The Ligue 1 tie-up was made public in late July, with that league also containing a number of Brazilian stars – including Marquinhos, captain of perennial title-winners Paris Saint-Germain.
For the SPL, meanwhile, exclusive domestic rights are held by the Saudi Research and Media Group, which struck a six-year deal to that effect in mid-2025.
