Saudi Arabia

History of the Saudi Arabia National Team: The Green Falcons, from 1994 to the Lusail Upset

Three-time Asian champions, authors of one of history's greatest shocks by beating Argentina in 2022, and future hosts of the 2034 World Cup, Saudi Arabia played their seventh World Cup finals in 2026.

1. Beginnings and Asian Dominance (1956–1993)

The Saudi Arabian Football Federation was founded in 1956. The national team became a major continental power in the 1980s, winning the Asian Cup in 1984 and 1988, before a third title in 1996. It also became the first Asian nation to win the Under-17 World Cup, in 1989.

2. USA 1994: Al-Owairan's Goal

At their first World Cup in 1994, Saudi Arabia produced a remarkable run: they beat Morocco and then Belgium to reach the round of 16. Against Belgium, Saeed Al-Owairan ran nearly seventy metres with the ball to score one of the finest goals in tournament history. The country then qualified again in 1998, 2002 and 2006.

3. Difficult Years (2002–2018)

The 2002 World Cup left a painful memory, with a heavy 8–0 defeat by Germany. In 2018 the Saudis played the opening match against hosts Russia and lost 5–0, before beating Egypt to salvage some pride.

4. Lusail 2022: The Upset Against Argentina

On 22 November 2022 in Lusail, Saudi Arabia pulled off one of the greatest shocks in World Cup history: trailing to a Lionel Messi penalty, they turned the match around against Argentina, the eventual world champions, to win 2–1 through Saleh Al-Shehri and a superb strike from Salem Al-Dawsari. The country declared a public holiday to celebrate.

5. A Nation Investing in Football (2023–2025)

Meanwhile the Saudi league, the Saudi Pro League, began attracting global stars following Cristiano Ronaldo's arrival at Al-Nassr in 2023, followed by Neymar, Karim Benzema and many internationals. In December 2024 FIFA confirmed that Saudi Arabia would host the 2034 World Cup.

6. The 2026 World Cup

Qualified in October 2025 for their seventh World Cup, Saudi Arabia were drawn in Group H with Spain, the eventual world champions, Uruguay and Cape Verde, playing their very first finals. In a very strong group, the Green Falcons finished fourth on goal difference and were eliminated in the first round for the second consecutive World Cup.

7. Towards 2034: A Home World Cup

Since resuming in September 2026, Saudi Arabia have had their eyes on the historic occasion of 2034. Until then, the federation is relying on raising the level of the Saudi Pro League — won in 2025–26 by Al-Nassr — on developing young Saudi players alongside international stars, and on building new stadiums to make the home World Cup a sporting success.

Honours, Stadium and Legends

Honours: three Asian Cups (1984, 1988, 1996) and several Gulf Cups. Saudi Arabia played at the 1994 World Cup — reaching the round of 16, lit up by Saeed Al-Owairan's solo run against Belgium — and in 1998, 2002, 2006, 2018, 2022 — a stunning 2-1 win over eventual champions Argentina — and 2026, before hosting the 2034 edition. Riyadh's King Fahd International Stadium is its historic home. Majed Abdullah, "the Desert Pearl" and the national team's all-time leading scorer, goalkeeper Mohamed Al-Deayea, one of the most-capped players in the world, Sami Al-Jaber, who appeared at four World Cups, Yasser Al-Qahtani and Salem Al-Dawsari, the match-winner against Argentina, form its pantheon. The rise of the Saudi Pro League, which has attracted international stars since 2023, and the government's Vision 2030 plan have made football a pillar of the kingdom's sporting ambitions.