Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia are three-time AFC Asian Cup champions and one of the most consistently qualified Asian nations at the FIFA World Cup, with six appearances in the tournament since their debut at USA 1994.

The Green Falcons are built around a Saudi Pro League foundation that has been dramatically transformed by the arrival of global stars from 2023 onwards. The national team benefits from this infrastructure even as it creates new dynamics: players accustomed to high-level weekly football against elite opposition have raised technical standards, but squad selection from a single domestic league still presents depth challenges at international level. Salem Al-Dawsari, who scored one of Qatar 2022’s most celebrated goals, remains the team’s most creative force: two-footed, difficult to predict, and capable of decisive moments in tight matches.

Saudi Arabia’s defining World Cup moment came at Qatar 2022 when they defeated Argentina 2-1 in one of the tournament’s most startling upsets. Argentina, who had not lost in 36 matches and were led by Lionel Messi in his last World Cup, conceded a second-half equaliser from Saleh Al-Shehri and the winner from Salem Al-Dawsari in a result that momentarily froze the world. The crowd in Lusail, watching one of the most powerful regional neighbours in international football eliminate the expected favourite with two finishing strikes of genuine quality, produced some of the competition’s most vivid images.

Saudi Arabia won the AFC Asian Cup in 1984, 1988, and 1996, a three-tournament winning streak that remains the record for most consecutive Asian titles. The national team has been rebuilding toward that level of regional dominance in recent years.

Saudi Arabia operates on Arabia Standard Time, UTC+3 with no daylight saving. A 20:00 kickoff in Riyadh is 17:00 in London and 12:00 in New York. Check Saudi Arabia time for your local conversion.