One of the big heavyweights in the AFC region, expectations are once again high for the Saudi Arabia National Football Team as they will be making their 8th appearance in the FIFA World Cup in 2026.
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One of the big heavyweights in the AFC region, expectations are once again high for the Saudi Arabia National Football Team as they will be making their 8th appearance in the FIFA World Cup in 2026.
The Green Falcons are going to be part of Group H alongside hosts Spain, Uruguay, and Cape Verde in the continental showpiece, which will be presenting its 23rd edition. Saudi Arabia is part of the AFC, the football confederation representing Asia, and has been part of 7 World Cup tournaments in the past, especially two consecutive appearances in 2018 and 2022.
The 2026 edition will make it three appearances in a row, a special feeling for the fans of the national team who will hope Saudi Arabia will be standing toe-to-toe against some of the world's best under head coach Herve Renard.
The Saudi Arabia National Football Team, similar to teams like Iran and Australia have showcased the juggernaut mentality in its confederation and won big in Asian football. The Green Falcons won the AFC Asian Cup three times in 1984, 1988, and 1996, among other regional tournaments.
Majed Abdullah, Sami Al Jaber, Yaser Al Qahtani, Obeid Al Dosari, and Salem Al Dawsari are just a few of the greats that the Saudi Arabian National Football Team has produced in the past; however, they are yet to prove themselves worthy opponents like Spain and Uruguay at the World Cup.
As one of the top teams in its confederation, the Saudi Arabia National Football Team is fully capable of battling against some of the best teams in the world, as was visible when they defeated eventual World champions Argentina in the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar during the group stages. Under Renard, the goal for the national team will be to break through the Round of 16 jinx, the team’s best finish in a FIFA World Cup tournament.
In 2026, Green Falcons will be keen to improve on their 25th-place finish in Qatar during the 2022 World Cup, and finish even better and higher than in previous years under coach Renard. With players like Mohammed Sulaiman and Saleh Al-Shehri likely to be in the final 26-man squad, the future of the Saudi Arabia National Football Team could not be any more promising or exciting to a lot of Saudi Arabian football fans, who will have elevated expectations following the success of the Saudi Pro League and the progression witnessed in Saudi Arabian football.
The Saudi Arabia National Football Team was founded in 1951, and the concept team played their first unofficial game against the Egyptian Ministry of Health with a makeshift Saudi XI team consisting of players from clubs like Al-Wehda and Al-Ahli.
The very first official match that Saudi Arabia played was when they took part in their first international tournament at the 2nd Pan-Arab Games in Beirut. While the game ended 1-1, it set the stage for the sport to grow and find roots in the Middle East.
The Saudi Arabia National Football Team played its first official competition game during the 1970 Arabian Gulf Cup. Saudi Arabia finished 3rd in the tournament, with two draws and a loss in three games at the tournament in Bahrain.
| Confederation | AFC (Asia) |
|---|---|
| Chairman of Football Saudi Arabia | Yasser Al Misehal |
| Nicknames | The Green Falcons, The Green One, Arabian Falcons |
| National Stadium | King Abdullah Sports City/King Fahd International Stadium/Al-Awwal Park/Prince Abdullah al-Faisal Stadium |
| Capacity | - |
| Head Coach | Herve Renard |
The SAFF, not to be confused with the South Asian Football Federation, is the official body that monitors and arranges the smooth functioning of the footballing system in Saudi Arabia. The foundation was laid in 1955 by Prince Abdullah bin Faisal, and it joined the apex footballing body, FIFA, in 1956.
SAFF became a member of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) in 1972. It controls the sport of football, including the Saudi Pro League, First Division League, Women’s Premier League, Super Cup, and King’s Cup. The Saudi Arabian Football Federation has a say in the functioning and execution of games in these competitions.
The SAFF has played a key role in moving men’s and women’s football to the very top in the country by bringing in one of the greatest football players of all time, Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema in the past 6 years. Despite the fact that the Federation is located in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, multiple venues serve as the home ground of the Saudi Arabia National Football Team. Currently ranked 61st in the FIFA World Rankings, SAFF will be hungry and motivated to help the team reach back to the heights of being ranked 21st in July 2004.
The federation has appointed 57-year-old French manager Herve Renard as the Saudi Arabia National Football Team coach, who has managed UEFA Europa League sides like LOSC Lille and has experience managing national teams like Zambia and the Ivory Coast in the past, while winning two AFCON Cups with the two national teams. A reputed manager with a nation’s hopes riding on his shoulders, Renard will be keen to win and achieve something special with his Saudi Arabia squad in the upcoming tournament.
Under the management of SAFF, the Green Falcons will be desperate to disrupt and upset the big names once again and potentially be the underdog team that showcases the might of Asian football to the world.
The Saudi Arabia Football Federation was first affiliated with football’s world governing body, FIFA, in 1956 and has not been completely insulated from controversy over the years. The federation has refused to allow its men’s and women’s football teams to travel in recent years, citing safety and geopolitical reasons. In June 2017, the team failed to observe silence for the victims of the 2017 London Bridge attacks before their World Cup qualifying game against Australia.
The Green Falcons have won three AFC Asian Cup titles in 1984, 1988, and 1996 and also won the Arabian Gulf Cup in 1993/94, 2002, and 2004, alongside two Arab Cup trophies in 1997/98 and 2001/02.
The Arabian Gulf Cup win in 2004 was the last major trophy won by the Saudi Arabia National Football Team, and the SAFF will be keen to end the drought under the stewardship of Herve Renard. Star players like Mohammed Sulaiman and Saleh Al-Shehri bring new hope for the Green Falcons as they gear up for an 8th appearance in the FIFA World Cup. While the golden generation of the national team departed in the mid 2000s, there is renewed hope that the team could break the group stage jinx as Renard dreams big for a quarterfinals spot in 2026.
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Similar to a handful of national football teams, the Green Falcons have played in multiple grounds over the years, but don't have a dedicated national stadium. The team has played in stadiums like King Abdullah Sports City, King Fahd International Stadium, Al-Awwal Park, and Prince Abdullah al-Faisal Stadium over the years.
Saudi Arabia is also developing new stadiums like the King Salman International Stadium, Jeddah Central Development Stadium, and Murabba Stadium for hosting the big games over the coming years.
The Arabian Falcons have won notable regional silverware over the years.
| Competition | No. of Titles | Years |
|---|---|---|
| AFC Asian Cup | 3 | 1984, 1988, and 1996 |
| Arabian Gulf Cup | 3 | 1993/94, 2002, and 2004 |
| Arab Cup | 2 | 1997/98 and 2001/02 |
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Frequently Asked Questions
Has the Saudi Arabia National Football Team Ever Won a Trophy?
Yes, the Saudi Arabia National Football Team has won 8 trophies.
Who is the Saudi Arabia National Football Team Top Scorer?
Majed Abdullah is the Saudi Arabia National Football Team's all-time top scorer with 72 goals.
Where is the Saudi Arabia National Football Team ranked in football?
The Saudi Arabia National Football Team is ranked in the 61st position in FIFA World Rankings currently.
In which year, the Saudi Arabia National Football Team played their first match?
The Saudi Arabia National Football Team played their first match in January 1957 against Lebanon in Beirut.
What is the Saudi Arabia National Football Team’s highest finish in a FIFA World Cup Tournament?
The Saudi Arabia National Football Team’s highest finish was making the Round of 16 stage of the 1994 FIFA World Cup.
What language does the Saudi Arabia National Football Team Speak?
The Saudi Arabia National Football Team primarily speaks Arabic and English.
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