Saudi Arabia Qualify for 2026 FIFA World Cup After Goalless Draw with Iraq

Jeddah, Saudi Arabia :  Saudi Arabia secured their place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup after holding Iraq to a goalless draw in front of more than 60,000 fans at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium on Tuesday night.

The Green Falcons, managed by Herve Renard, only needed a point to guarantee qualification, and they delivered a resilient defensive performance to top Group B of the fourth round of Asia’s qualifiers. Despite finishing level on four points with Iraq, Saudi Arabia edged ahead based on goals scored, thanks in part to their 3-2 win over Indonesia.

The highlight of the night came deep into stoppage time when Saudi goalkeeper Nawaf Al-Aqidi made a crucial save to deny Iraq’s Hassan Abdulkareem from a 25-yard curling free kick, preserving the scoreline and ensuring Saudi Arabia’s passage to the World Cup finals in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Speaking after the match, Renard credited the fans: “Even though Salem (Al-Dawsari) got man of the match, I think this evening it was the fans. It has not been easy a few months ago, but we did it and this is the most important.”

The game itself was a tense affair, with both teams struggling to find rhythm in the first half. Saleh Abu Al-Shamat came closest for the Saudis early on, firing over the bar in the 13th minute. The Al-Ahli forward was a constant threat, setting up Feras Al-Brikan after the break, whose cross was narrowly missed by Saud Abdulhamid.

The Iraqi goalkeeper Jalal Hassan kept his side in the game with a series of impressive saves, including efforts from Salem Al-Dawsari and Nasser Al-Dawsari. On the other end, a last-minute tackle from Hassan Al-Tambakti denied Mohanad Ali a potential breakthrough for Iraq.

Iraq will now face the United Arab Emirates in a two-legged playoff next month, with the winner moving on to the intercontinental playoffs set for March 2026.

With this result, Saudi Arabia have now qualified for their seventh FIFA World Cup, continuing a proud tradition since their debut appearance in 1994.