Militants had plotted to car-bomb a World Cup 2018 qualifying game between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates in October, it says.
The authorities also say they have foiled a second plot directed by Islamic State (IS) militants to kill security officials near Riyadh.
Eight suspects have been arrested from two "terrorist cells", offficials say.
Among them are Saudi nationals, two Pakistanis, a Syrian and a Sudanese, the Saudi interior ministry says.