The Saudi Arabia national football team represents Saudi Arabia in men’s international football, and the team colors are green and white. Saudi Arabia is known as Al-Saqqour (The Falcon) and Al-Akhdar (The Green). The team represents both FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). Saudi Arabia Football History.
Considered one of the most successful national teams in Asia, Saudi Arabia has won the Asian Cup three times (1984, 1988, and 1996), and reached a combined record six Asian Cup finals and six since its debut in 1994. But have qualified for the World Cup. The tournament Saudi Arabia is the first AFC nation to reach the final of a senior FIFA competition, having won it during the 1992 King Fahd Cup, which would eventually become the FIFA Confederations Cup. Only Australia and Japan managed to repeat the feat in 1997 and 2001, although Australia achieved it when it was a member of the OFC.
Saudia Arab Best Football Team
At the 1994 World Cup, led by Jorge Solari, Saudi Arabia defeated both Belgium and Morocco in the group stage. Before falling to Sweden in the round of 16. Following Morocco’s round of 16 elimination at the 1986 FIFA World Cup. The number 16 at the World Cup, and one of the few Asian national football teams to achieve such a feat to date (the others being Australia, Japan, South Korea, and North Korea).
The idea of a Saudi national team first came about in 1951. When a Saudi XI team consisting of Al-Wahda and Al-Ahly players took part in a friendly match. Against the Egyptian Ministry of Health at Al-Saban Stadium on 27 June. The next day in Jeddah, the Egyptians faced a Saudi team consisting of players from Al-Ittihad and Al-Hilal at Al-Bahri in the same city.
Royal Prince
On 2 August, His Royal Highness Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal organized a third friendly match with the Egyptian team against Saudi Arabia with players from Al Wahda and Al Ahly. By this time the idea of a national team to represent the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was already in full swing. And in 1953 the Saudi team traveled for the first time to play friendly matches abroad. That same year, a Saudi team traveled to Damascus to play a friendly game. As part of then-Crown Prince Saud bin Abdulaziz’s April visit to the country.
National Team
In 1957, the Saudi national team participated in its first international tournament at the second Pan-Arab Games in Beirut. King Saud was invited to attend the opening ceremony and the Lebanese president at the inauguration of Camille Chamoun Sports City Stadium. With Camille Chamon. October 18. Abdul Majeed Kayal scored for the Saudis while Leon Altunin scored for the home side.
Football Federation
Although their football federation was establishe in 1956. The Saudi Arabian national team did not participate in a tournament until they qualified for the AFC Asian Cup in 1984. Since then, they have reached the finals of the next four consecutive Asian Cups, winning two of them (1988 and 1996). They have qualified for every Asian Cup since reaching the final in 2007. Saudi Arabia Football History.
FIFA World Cup
Saudi Arabia qualified for their first FIFA World Cup in 1994 under Argentine manager Jorge Solari, with talents. Such as Saeed Al-Aweeran and Sami Al-Jaber bolstered by national veteran Majid Abdullah as team captain. Group stage wins over Belgium and Morocco led to a draw against Sweden in the Round of 16, a 3–1 defeat. Saudi Arabia qualified for the next three World Cups but failed to win any of them. The team finished last without a goal in 2002 while conceding 12, including eight against Germany.
Saudi Arabia qualified for the 2018 World Cup, they are first in 12 years, ahead of Australia. Hosts Russia beat the Arabs 5-0 in the opening match. The second biggest victory by any host nation at a FIFA World Cup. Saudi Arabia was then beat 1-0 by Luis Suarez’s Uruguay, the eventual group winners. Although they were already eliminate, they managed to salvage some pride by winning their final group stage match against Red Sea neighbors Egypt.
Asian Cup
After the 2018 World Cup, Saudi Arabia participated in the 2019 Asian Cup held in the United Arab Emirates. The team finished second in the group stage, falling to Qatar in the final game. Leading to a match against Japan in the Round of 16. The Saudis dominated throughout the game but eventually lost 1–0 due to poor finishing. Saudi Arabia Football History.
On 15 October 2019, Saudi Arabia played their first match against Palestine on the West Bank. The game marked a change in policy for Saudi Arabia. Which has previously played matches against a Palestinian team in third-party countries. The visit was condemned by some Palestinian activists. Who saw the game as the start of a normalization of relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel. But the Palestinian National Authority saw it as an endorsement of its sovereignty in the West Bank. . The game ended in a goalless draw.
Saudi Arabia qualified for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the first to be held in the Middle East, topping their qualifying group and drawing against Argentina, Poland, and Mexico. For more details click here