2018 King Cup
The 2018 King Cup, or The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Cup, was the 43rd edition of the King Cup since its establishment in 1957, and the 11th under the current format. It started on 3 January and concluded with the final on 12 May 2018. The winner qualified for the 2019 AFC Champions League group stage.
| Country | Saudi Arabia | 
|---|---|
| Dates | 3 January – 12 May 2018 | 
| Teams | 32 | 
| Defending champions | Al-Hilal | 
| Champions | Al-Ittihad | 
| Runners-up | Al-Faisaly | 
| Matches played | 31 | 
| Goals scored | 96 (3.1 per match) | 
| Top goal scorer(s) | Carlos Villanueva (4 goals)  | 
← 2017  2019 →  
All statistics correct as of 12 May 2018. | |
Al-Ittihad won their eighth title after a 3–1 win over Al-Faisaly in the final on 12 May 2018.[1]
Pro League side Al-Hilal were the defending champions, but they were eliminated by Al-Qadsiah in the Round of 16.[2] It was the earliest exit by the title holders since the introduction of the new format.
Participating teams
    
A total of 32 teams participated in this season. 14 teams from the Professional league, 16 teams from the First Division, and 2 teams qualifying from the preliminary stage.[3]
| League | Teams | 
|---|---|
| Pro League | |
| Prince Mohammad bin Salman League | |
| Third Division | 
  | 
Bracket
    
| Round of 32 | Round of 16 | Quarter-finals | Semi-finals | Final | ||||||||||||||||||||
| H | Al-Hilal | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| A | Hajer | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| A | Al-Hilal | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| H | Al-Qadsiah | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| H | Al-Qadsiah | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| A | Jeddah | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| H | Al-Qadsiah | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| A | Al-Faisaly | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| H | Al-Wehda | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| A | Al-Nojoom (a.e.t.) | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| A | Al-Nojoom | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| H | Al-Faisaly | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| A | Al-Faisaly (a.e.t.) | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| H | Al-Watani | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| H | Al-Faisaly | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| A | Al-Ahli | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| A | Al-Fayha (a.e.t.) | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| H | Al-Qaisumah | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| H | Al-Fayha (a.e.t.) | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| A | Al-Fateh | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| H | Al-Fateh | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| A | Al-Hazem | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| H | Al-Fayha | 2 (3) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| A | Al-Ahli (pen.) | 2 (4) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| H | Ohod | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| A | Al-Orobah | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| A | Al-Orobah | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| H | Al-Ahli | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| A | Al-Ahli | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| H | Al-Shoulla | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| – | Al-Faisaly | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| – | Al-Ittihad | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| A | Al-Ittihad | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| H | Al-Kawkab | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| H | Al-Ittihad | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| A | Al-Ettifaq | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| H | Al-Ettifaq | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| A | Al-Tai | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| H | Al-Ittihad | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| A | Al-Shabab | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| H | Al-Shabab | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| A | Najran | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| H | Al-Shabab | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| A | Al-Khaleej | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| A | Al-Khaleej | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| H | Al-Bahah | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| A | Al-Ittihad | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| H | Al-Batin | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| A | Al-Batin | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| H | Al-Mujazzal | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| H | Al-Batin | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| A | Damac | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| H | Al-Taawoun | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| A | Damac | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| A | Al-Batin | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| H | Al-Nassr | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| H | Al-Raed | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| A | Al-Nahda | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| A | Al-Nahda | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| H | Al-Nassr | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| H | Al-Nassr | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| A | Al-Zulfi | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Note: H: Home team, A: Away team
Source: SAFF[4]
Round of 32
    
The Round of 32 matches were played between 3 and 7 January 2018.[5][6] All times are local, AST (UTC+3).
| 3 January 2018 12 | Al-Bahah (4) | 0–1 | Al-Khaleej (2) | Al Bahah | 
| 15:45 | Al-Zahrani  Zayed Al-Haly  | 
Report | Al-Enezi  Sami Meshqi  | 
Stadium: King Saud Sport City Stadium Referee: Mohammed Al-Qarni  | 
| 3 January 2018 10 | Al-Ettifaq (1) | 6–0 | Al-Tai (2) | Dammam | 
| 17:40 | Al-Selouli  Al-Saiari Al-Zubaidi Al-Sonain  | 
Report | Al-Amri  Al-Jarrad  | 
Stadium: Prince Mohamed bin Fahd Stadium Referee: Sami Al-Jires  | 
| 3 January 2018 3 | Al-Wehda (2) | 0–2 (a.e.t.) | Al-Nojoom (2) | Makkah | 
| 19:45 | Al-Sulami  | 
Report | Awadh  Al-Harbi Sharoumah Al-Majhad  | 
Stadium: King Abdul Aziz Stadium Referee: Abdullah Al-Awidan  | 
| 4 January 2018 7 | Ohod (1) | 0–1 | Al-Orobah (2) | Medina | 
| 15:45 | Assiri  Al-Nabit  | 
Report | Bander  Al-Munaif Rawaf  | 
Stadium: Prince Mohammed bin Abdul Aziz Stadium Referee: Majid Al-Shamrani  | 
| 4 January 2018 2 | Al-Qadsiah (1) | 3–2 | Jeddah (2) | Khobar | 
| 17:40 | Fallatah  Élton Bismark  | 
Report | Al-Johani  Al-Qarni  | 
Stadium: Prince Saud bin Jalawi Stadium Referee: Khaled Salwi  | 
| 4 January 2018 1 | Al-Hilal (1) | 2–1 | Hajer (2) | Riyadh | 
| 19:20 | Rivas  Al Bulaihi Al-Qahtani  | 
Report | Al-Jamaan  | 
Stadium: Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium Referee: Mohammed Al-Smail  | 
| 5 January 2018 6 | Al-Fateh (1) | 1–0 | Al-Hazem (2) | Al-Hasa | 
| 15:05 | Sharahili  | 
Report | Stadium: Prince Abdullah bin Jalawi Stadium Referee: Abdullah Al-Shehri  | 
| 5 January 2018 13 | Al-Mujazzal (2) | 1–3 | Al-Batin (1) | Al Majma'ah | 
| 15:20 | Al-Yousef  Al-Bishi Sidevaldo Al-Muraished  | 
Report | Tarabai  Metlaq Jhonnattann Paulo Waqes  | 
Stadium: King Salman Sport City Stadium Referee: Mohammed Al-Nuhait  | 
| 5 January 2018 14 | Al-Taawoun (1) | 1–2 | Damac (2) | Buraidah | 
| 15:25 | Al-Maghrebi  Al-Bishi Amissi  | 
Report | Al-Aliany  Al-Qahtani Al-Najei Sharahili Al-Thunayan Al-Shahrani  | 
Stadium: King Abdullah Sport City Stadium Referee: Khaled Al-Teris  | 
| 5 January 2018 16 | Al-Nassr (1) | 2–0 | Al-Zulfi (4) | Riyadh | 
| 19:20 | Al-Mutlaq  Ghaly Al-Sahlawi Leonardo  | 
Report | Al-Sabt  Al-Sharid  | 
Stadium: King Fahd International Stadium Referee: Shukri Al-Hanfosh  | 
| 6 January 2018 5 | Al-Qaisumah (2) | 2–3 (a.e.t.) | Al-Fayha (1) | Hafar al-Batin | 
| 15:10 | Al-Ruwailli  Jowhar Al-Sahali Afana  | 
Report | Fernández  Al-Mutairi Asprilla  | 
Stadium: Al-Batin Club Stadium Referee: Mishari Al-Mishari  | 
| 6 January 2018 4 | Al-Watani (2) | 2–3 (a.e.t.) | Al-Faisaly (1) | Tabuk | 
| 15:55 | Eisa  R. Al-Balawi N. Al-Balawi Majrashi  | 
Report | Abousaban  Hamad Majrashi Rogério Al Mansor  | 
Stadium: King Khalid Sport City Stadium Referee: Abdullah Al-Nahet  | 
| 6 January 2018 15 | Al-Raed (1) | 0–1 | Al-Nahda (2) | Buraidah | 
| 18:05 | Al-Shamekh  Al-Musalem  | 
Report | Al-Jadaani  Al-Khamees Al-Hamdan Al-Merqeb Al-Maimouni  | 
Stadium: King Abdullah Sport City Stadium Referee: Abdulrahman Al-Shehri  | 
| 6 January 2018 8 | Al-Shoulla (2) | 0–2 | Al-Ahli (1) | Al-Kharj | 
| 19:20 | Report | Al-Moasher  Fetfatzidis Asiri Oboabona  | 
Stadium: Al-Shoulla Club Stadium Referee: Abdulrahman Al-Sultan  | 
| 7 January 2018 11 | Al-Shabab (1) | 2–0 | Najran (2) | Riyadh | 
| 18:00 | Al Tawfiq  Al-Shamrani  | 
Report | A. Al-Sqoor  N. Al-Sqoor  | 
Stadium: Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium Referee: Sultan Al-Harbi  | 
| 7 January 2018 9 | Al-Kawkab (2) | 1–3 | Al-Ittihad (1) | Al-Kharj | 
| 19:20 | Al-Zahrani  Al-Saeed Al-Shehri Al-Dubaisi Al-Zubaidi  | 
Report | Al-Muwallad  Sufyani Villanueva Akaïchi Kahraba  | 
Stadium: Al-Shoulla Club Stadium Referee: Mohammed Al-Hoaish  | 
Round of 16
    
The Round of 16 matches were played between 19 and 25 January 2018.[7][8] All times are local, AST (UTC+3).
| 19 January 2018 21 | Al-Ittihad (1) | 2–1 | Al-Ettifaq (1) | Jeddah | 
| 20:10 | Villanueva  Al-Muwallad  | 
Report | Kiss  Al-Saleh Al Hajri  | 
Stadium: King Abdullah Sports City Attendance: 44,010 Referee: Jonas Eriksson (Sweden)  | 
| 20 January 2018 18 | Al-Faisaly (1) | 2–0 | Al-Nojoom (2) | Al Majma'ah | 
| 15:30 | Rogério  Al-Mansor Majrashi  | 
Report | Al-Batran  Al-Sobeai  | 
Stadium: King Salman Sport City Stadium Referee: Ismail Elfath (United States)  | 
| 20 January 2018 17 | Al-Qadsiah (1) | 1–0 | Al-Hilal (1) | Khobar | 
| 18:00 | Hervé  Fallatah Bismark Barnawi  | 
Report | Fallatah  Otayf Milesi  | 
Stadium: Prince Saud bin Jalawi Stadium Attendance: 3,749 Referee: Pavel Královec (Czech Republic)  | 
| 20 January 2018 24 | Al-Nassr (1) | 1–0 | Al-Nahda (2) | Riyadh | 
| 18:10 | Al-Sahlawi  Lagrou  | 
Report | Masrahi  Al-Hamdan  | 
Stadium: Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium Referee: Ovidiu Hațegan (Romania)  | 
| 21 January 2018 20 | Al-Ahli (1) | 6–0 | Al-Orobah (2) | Jeddah | 
| 18:45 | Al-Moasher  Al-Mogahwi Fefatzidis Zakaria  | 
Report | Al-Najei  | 
Stadium: King Abdullah Sports City Attendance: 8,500 Referee: Andrew Dallas (Scotland)  | 
| 24 January 2018 19 | Al-Fayha (1) | 2–1 (a.e.t.) | Al-Fateh (1) | Al Majma'ah | 
| 15:35 | Al Salem  Al-Khaibari  | 
Report | Sakala  João Pedro Al-Fuhaid  | 
Stadium: King Salman Sport City Stadium Attendance: 423 Referee: Mark Clattenburg (England)  | 
| 25 January 2018 23 | Al-Batin (1) | 2–0 | Damac (2) | Hafar al-Batin | 
| 15:30 | Guilherme  Jorge Silva  | 
Report | Stadium: Al-Batin Club Stadium Referee: Ivan Bebek (Croatia)  | 
| 25 January 2018 22 | Al-Shabab (1) | 3–1 | Al-Khaleej (2) | Riyadh | 
| 20:00 | Khamees  Benyettou Ghazi Bahebri  | 
Report | Al-Najrani  Khamees  | 
Stadium: Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium Referee: Simon Lee Evans (Wales)  | 
Quarter-finals
    
The Quarter-finals matches were played between 22 and 25 February 2018.[9][10] All times are local, AST (UTC+3).
| 22 February 2018 28 | Al-Nassr (1) | 0–1 | Al-Batin (1) | Riyadh | 
| 20:00 | Madu  Al-Fraidi  | 
Report | Nasser  Jhonnattann Diabaté Al-Shammeri Guilherme Al-Jouei Khodari Mathlouthi Paulo  | 
Stadium: Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium Referee: Simon Lee Evans (Wales)  | 
| 23 February 2018 27 | Al-Ittihad (1) | 3–1 | Al-Shabab (1) | Jeddah | 
| 20:30 | Al-Nakhli  Fallatah Kahraba  | 
Report | Al-Fahad  Majrashi Ubilla  | 
Stadium: King Abdullah Sports City Attendance: 57,810 Referee: Pawel Raczkowski (Poland)  | 
| 24 February 2018 26 | Al-Fayha (1) | 2–2 (a.e.t.) (3–4 p)  | Al-Ahli (1) | Al Majma'ah | 
| 18:40 | Gómez  Izaguirre Fernández Jaafari Asprilla Al-Sobhi  | 
Report | Balghaith  Bakshween Al-Amri Asiri  | 
Stadium: King Salman Sport City Stadium Attendance: 2,278 Referee: Simon Lee Evans (Wales)  | 
| Penalties | ||||
| Tziolis  Asprilla Al-Mutairi Al-Sobhi Fernández Izaguirre  | 
Fetfatzidis  Milligan Al-Amri Leonardo Awagi Ben Amor  | 
|||
| 25 February 2018 25 | Al-Qadsiah (1) | 2–3 | Al-Faisaly (1) | Khobar | 
| 18:20 | Hervé  Al-Khabrani Jorginho Al-Shoeil Camara Al-Jizani Fallatah  | 
Report | Gomaa  Luisinho Majrashi Rogério Zé Eduardo  | 
Stadium: Prince Saud bin Jalawi Stadium Referee: Paweł Raczkowski (Poland)  | 
Semi-finals
    
The Semi-finals matches were be played on 30 and 31 March 2018.[11][12] All times are local, AST (UTC+3).
| 30 March 2018 29 | Al-Faisaly (1) | 1–0 | Al-Ahli (1) | Al Majma'ah | 
| 20:35 | Zé Eduardo  | 
Report | Al-Shamrani  | 
Stadium: King Salman Sport City Stadium Referee: Danny Makkelie (Netherlands)  | 
| 1 April 2018 30 | Al-Batin (1) | 2–6 | Al-Ittihad (1) | Hafar al-Batin | 
| 20:35 | Guilherme  Tinga Waqes Ghunaiman  | 
Report | Villanueva  Al-Ghamdi Akaïchi Al-Muziel Al-Aryani  | 
Stadium: Al-Batin Club Stadium Referee: Shukri Al-Hanfoush  | 
Final
    
The final was held on 12 May 2018. All times are local, AST (UTC+3).
Top goalscorers
    
As of 12 May 2018[13]
| Rank | Player | Club | Goals | 
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Al-Ittihad | 4 | |
| 2 | Al-Ettifaq | 3 | |
| Al-Ahli | |||
| Al-Faisaly | |||
| Al-Ittihad | |||
Note: Players and teams marked in bold are still active in the competition.
See also
    
    
References
    
- "فيديو | ملخص مباراة الاتحاد والفيصلي - نهائي كأس الملك 2018 | دوري بلس".
 - "الاتحاد السعودي لكرة القدم - مركز الأخبار". thesaff.com.sa. Archived from the original on 25 December 2017. Retrieved 25 December 2017.
 - "الاتحاد السعودي لكرة القدم on Twitter📌| تُسحب بعد قليل قرعة #مسابقة_كأس_خادم_الحرمين_الشريفين في القاعة الرئيسة بمجمع الأمير فيصل بن فهد الأولمبي بالرياض.. ماهي توقعاتكم؟ 👍🏻"". twitter.com. Retrieved 25 December 2017.
 - "نتائج قرعة كأس خادم الحرمين الشريفين" [Custodian of Two Holy Mosques Cup Draw] (in Arabic). SAFF. 25 December 2017.
 - "جدول مباريات #مسابقة_كأس_خادم_الحرمين_الشريفين" [Round of 32 of Custodian of Two Holy Mosques Cup Dates] (in Arabic). saudiff. 25 December 2017. Retrieved 25 December 2017.
 - "Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Cup 2016 - Round of 32". kooora.com. Retrieved 25 December 2017.
 - "جدول مباريات دور الـ16 من #مسابقة_كأس_خادم_الحرمين_الشريفين بعد التعديل" [Round of 16 of Custodian of Two Holy Mosques Cup Dates] (in Arabic). saudiff. 8 January 2017. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
 - "Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Cup 2018 - Round of 16". goalzz.com. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
 - "جدول مباريات دور الـ8 من" [Round of 8 of Custodian of Two Holy Mosques Cup Dates] (in Arabic). saudiff. 27 January 2017. Retrieved 27 January 2017.
 - "Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Cup 2018 - Round of 8". goalzz.com. Retrieved 27 January 2017.
 - "مواعيد مباريات الدور نصف النهائي من مسابقة" [Semi-finals of Custodian of Two Holy Mosques Cup Dates] (in Arabic). saudiff. 27 February 2017. Retrieved 27 January 2017.
 - "Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Cup 2018 - Round of 4". goalzz.com. Retrieved 27 February 2017.
 - "Top Scorers -King Cup". goalzz. Retrieved 2 January 2018.