The Saudi national team has participated in the FIFA World Cup finals six times, playing nineteen matches. They have won four matches, lost thirteen, and two matches ended in a draw. The team scored fourteen goals, including four from penalties, and conceded forty-four goals. Saeed Al-Owairan scored the fastest goal for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the FIFA World Cup, netting against Belgium in the fifth minute during the 1994 FIFA World Cup in the USA. The first Saudi goal in FIFA World Cup finals was scored by Fuad Anwar in the same tournament.
Saudi National Team in the 1994 FIFA World Cup
The Saudi national team qualified for the FIFA World Cup for the first time in 1994, led by Argentine coach Jorge Solari. The tournament was held in the United States, and the Kingdom was grouped with the Netherlands, Morocco, and Belgium. In their first match against the Netherlands, the Kingdom lost 2-1, with Fuad Anwar scoring the Saudi goal. In the second match, the Kingdom defeated Morocco 2-1, with goals from Sami Al-Jaber as penalty and Fuad Anwar. In the third match, the Kingdom won 1-0 against Belgium, with Saeed Al-Owairan scoring the goal. All three matches were played in Washington, D.C. The Kingdom advanced to the Round of 16, where they played against Sweden in Dallas and were eliminated after a 3-1 defeat, with Fahad Al-Ghesheyan scoring the Saudi goal.
Saudi National Team in the 1998 FIFA World Cup
The Saudi national team participated in the FIFA World Cup for the second time in 1998, held in France. The Saudi team was grouped with Denmark, France, and South Africa. The team was coached by Brazilian Carlos Alberto Parreira. In their first match against Denmark in Lens, France, the Kingdom lost 1-0. The second match was against France in Saint-Denis, where the Kingdom lost 4-0. In the third match against South Africa in Bordeaux, under the leadership of Saudi coach Mohammed Al-Kharashy, after the dismissal of the Brazilian coach Carlos Alberto Parreira, the match ended in a 2-2 draw. The goals for the Kingdom were scored by Sami Al-Jaber and Yousuf Al-Thunayan, both from penalties. The Kingdom exited the tournament in the group stage.
Saudi National Team in the 2002 FIFA World Cup
The 2002 FIFA World Cup was co-hosted by South Korea and Japan. The Kingdom was grouped with Germany, Cameroon, and Ireland. In their first match against Germany in Sapporo, Japan, the Kingdom lost 8-0. The second match was against Cameroon in Saitama, Japan, where the Kingdom lost 1-0. In the third match against Ireland, the Kingdom lost 3-0. The team was coached by Saudi coach Nasser Al-Johar at that time.
Saudi National Team in the 2006 FIFA World Cup
Germany hosted the 2006 FIFA World Cup, and the Saudi team was coached by Brazilian Marcos Paquetá. The Kingdom was grouped with Tunisia, Ukraine, and Spain. In their first match in Munich, the Kingdom drew 2-2 with Tunisia, with goals from Yasser Al-Qahtani and Sami Al-Jaber. In the second match, the Kingdom faced Ukraine in Hamburg and lost 4-0. In the third match, Spain defeated the Kingdom 1-0 in Kaiserslautern, leading to its exit from the tournament.
Saudi National Team in the 2018 FIFA World Cup
The Saudi national team qualified for the FIFA World Cup for the fifth time in 2018, held in Russia, under the guidance of Spanish coach Juan Antonio Pizzi. The Kingdom was grouped with Russia, Uruguay, and Egypt. In their first match in Moscow, the Kingdom lost 5-0 to Russia. In the second match, they faced Uruguay in Rostov and lost 1-0. In the third match, the Kingdom played against Egypt in Volgograd and won 2-1, with goals from Salman Al-Faraj as penalty and Salem Al-Dawsari.
Saudi National Team in the 2022 FIFA World Cup
The Saudi national football team qualified for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar for the sixth time in its history, led by French coach Hervé Renard. The draw placed the Kingdom in Group C alongside Argentina, Mexico, and Poland. In their first match at Lusail Stadium, the Kingdom achieved a historic 2-1 victory over Argentina, with goals from Saleh Al-Shehri and Salem Al-Dawsari. In the second match, they faced Poland at Education City Stadium and lost 2-0. In the third match, the Kingdom played against Mexico at Lusail Stadium and lost 2-1, with Salem Al-Dawsari scoring the Saudi goal.
Statistics of Saudi Arabia's FIFA World Cup Participation
- Number of matches: Nineteen.
- Number of matches won: Four.
- Number of matches lost: Thirteen.
- Number of matches drawn: Two.
- Number of goals: Fourteen.
- Goals per match: 0.74
- First-half goals: Six.
- Second-half goals: Eight.
- Goals from penalties: Four.
- Missed penalties: Two.
- Yellow cards: Thirty-five.
- Red cards: One.
Top Scorers for Saudi Arabia in the FIFA World Cup
- Salem Al-Dawsari: Three goals.
- Sami Al-Jaber: Three goals.
- Fuad Anwar: Two goals.
- Saeed Al-Owairan, Yousuf Al-Thunayan, Fahad Al-Ghesheyan, Yasser Al-Qahtani, Salman Al-Faraj, Saleh Al-Shehri: One goal each.
Related quizzes
Related articles