Saudi Arabia's Mahd Sports Academy will compete in the Madrid regional first division during the 2026–2027 season after obtaining a licence from the Royal Madrid Football Federation, which operates under the Royal Spanish Football Federation.

The academy will take part through the club "Mar Abierto – Mahd Sports Academy" with a 24-player squad drawn from its talents born in 2012, a move aimed at widening international opportunities for young Saudi footballers.

By giving the players regular, official fixtures and direct contact with Spanish clubs, the academy hopes to build sustainable development pathways that sharpen their competitive experience as well as their technical and physical levels.

Playing in a Spanish regional league offers the youngsters a complete competitive experience in an advanced football environment, combining continuous training with official matches, which helps them adapt to different styles of play and prepares them for the next stages.

The step also reflects Mahd's drive to expand its presence in international competition with season-long opportunities that go beyond short training camps and programmes, allowing the progress of its talents to be measured along clear development paths.