Top Arab Football Clubs of 3 Arab Countries
By: Nevin Girgis/ Arab America Contributing Writer
Football in the Arab World
As the most beloved sport in the Middle East, football is a significant part of Arab culture. The sport is enjoyed daily, physically through children and adults playing outside or through television screens in every street cafe and home. In the Arab world, the sport is not soccer, it is football. In Arabic, football is “كرة القدم”- Korrat al-Kadam, which directly translates to “ball of the foot”.
Football is taken very seriously in the Arab world. The space must be quiet when they broadcast a match. Matches are always broadcasted in cafes, especially when the home country is competing. To Arabs, the extreme love for the sport could even affect relationships and friendships. Based on the football club you support, you will be judged, similar to a personality trait.
In no particular order, the top football clubs in three Arab countries are Al-Ahly in Egypt, Wydad Casablanca in Morocco, and Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia.
Al-Ahly
Al-Ahly is Egypt’s professional football team based in Cairo which plays in the Egyptian Premier League. The club was founded in 1907 by a student at the Egyptian Law School, Omar Lotfy. Since then, the club has succeeded in domestic and international tournaments, especially, the Confederation of African Football (CAF). Overall, the club has won “11 CAF Champions League titles, 1 CAF Confederation Cup, a record of 8 CAF Super Cups, a record of 4 African Cup Winners’ Cups, 1 Afro-Asian Club Championship, 1 Arab Club Champions Cup, 1 Arab Cup Winners’ Cup, a record of 2 Arab Super Cups, and has won 3 bronze medals in the FIFA Club World Cup”.
Obviously, young Egyptian football players’ goal is to be a part of Al- Ahly, Egypt’s best football team. The other Egyptian professional football club that many Egyptians support is Al Zamalek which is Al Ahly’s established rival. Despite all Al Zamalek’s efforts, Al Ahly continuously comes on top.
Wydad Casablanca
Wydad is Morocco’s professional football team based in Casablanca. Wydad is the top Moroccan football club in the Moroccan football league system. The club was founded in 1937 as a part of a Moroccan movement for independence. Nationally, Wydad holds the “record of 22 Moroccan league titles, 9 Moroccan Throne Cups and 4 Moroccan Elite Cup, becoming the most titled club in Morocco”. Similar to Egypt, Wydad has also won a number of CAF Champions leagues. However, in June of 2023, Al-Ahly and Wydad competed in the finals of CAF and Al-Ahly triumphed against Wydad 2-1.
Al Hilal
Recently, Saudi Arabia has been continuously mentioned in football news due to the inclusion of Cristiano Ronaldo. However, Al Hilal is not the Saudi team that Ronaldo has joined, he joined Al Nassr FC. Al Hilal is one of Saudi Arabia’s professional football clubs. The club competes in Saudi Pro League, the country’s premier football league. Al Hilal was founded in 1957 and has since competed nationally and internationally. Prior to Lionel Messi joining Inter Miami CF, it was rumored that he would be joining Al Hilal, essentially directly competing with Ronaldo as the teams are established rivals. Both teams are renowned in Saudi Arabia, nevertheless, Al Hilal has overall achieved more wins than Al Nassr. Al Hilal and Al Nassr’s rivalry is similar to Al Ahly and Al Zammalek’s rivalry in Egypt.
Effects of Football in the Arab World
Every country in the Arab world has a number of football clubs that have gained immense fame in their country. With football being a significant part of Arab culture, it is no surprise that it has caused deep-rooted effects in the region. Almost every little Arab child dreams of becoming a famous football player when they grow up. To illustrate, a few honorable mentions of Arab football players that have brought all eyes on the Middle East are; Mohamed Salah from Egypt, Achraf Hakimi from Morocco, Yassine Bounou from Morocco, Mohamed El Shenawy from Egypt, and Riyad Mahrez from Algeria.
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