Al-Diriyah vs Al-Nassr Live Today: Cristiano Ronaldo Rested as Al-Nassr Faces Dangerous Cup Test
Al-Diriyah and Al-Nassr are set to clash today, Tuesday, August 18, 2026, in a Riyadh showdown for the Saudi King’s Cup Round of 32. The match will be held at Prince Turki bin Abdul Aziz Stadium, kicking off at 9:00 PM local time (18:00 UTC and 2:00 PM ET).
Minute by minute
- 2:00 PM ET / 18:00 UTC: Match kickoff.
Al-Diriyah, recently promoted to the top flight, enters the match after a narrow 1-0 defeat to Al Ahli in their Saudi Pro League opener. Al-Nassr, meanwhile, comes off a confident 3-0 victory over Al Fateh to start their league campaign.
Team News: Both managers are expected to make changes to their lineups. Al-Nassr manager Ange Postecoglou will rest Cristiano Ronaldo, providing opportunities for João Félix and Ângelo Gabriel to lead the attack. Sultan Al-Ghannam is unavailable for Al-Nassr due to injury. Al-Diriyah is adapting to life in the top flight while Al-Nassr aims for domestic silverware.
Stats and Prediction: Al-Nassr has demonstrated stronger attacking output, with 35 total shots in their previous five matches compared to Al-Diriyah’s 18. Al-Nassr is favored by bookmakers, with a 44% implied probability for a draw and 22% for Al-Diriyah.
How to Watch: Fans in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East can watch on Thmanyah and STC TV. In India, the match will be streamed on FanCode. Viewers in Bangladesh can watch free coverage on the SportyTV YouTube channel. Options in the United States and Canada include Fox Sports digital platforms and Yahoo Sports Football Stream. The UK and Ireland can watch from 7:00 PM BST, and continental Europe at 8:00 PM CEST. Sub-Saharan Africa can watch through StarTimes, and South America via ESPN platforms.