Saudi Arabia’s World Cup Record: Every Tournament, Result and Milestone

Last updated: Jun 24, 2026

Table of Contents

Saudi Arabia’s World Cup record at a glance

Saudi Arabia has qualified for the World Cup seven times: 1994, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2018, 2022 and 2026.

Across those finals the team has four wins, with one Round-of-16 finish as its high point.

The 2034 finals will be the Kingdom’s eighth appearance, secured automatically as host nation.

Year	Host	Best result
1994	United States	Round of 16
1998	France	Group stage
2002	South Korea / Japan	Group stage
2006	Germany	Group stage
2018	Russia	Group stage
2022	Qatar	Group stage
2026	USA / Canada / Mexico	In progress
2034	Saudi Arabia (host)	To be played

1994: the breakthrough run in the United States

USA 1994 remains Saudi Arabia’s finest World Cup, the only time the team has reached the knockout stage, per FIFA. On debut, the Green Falcons topped expectations by finishing second in their group.

It is best remembered for Saeed Al-Owairan’s solo goal against Belgium, a run from inside his own half that is still rated among the greatest in World Cup history.

Saudi Arabia’s group-stage results in 1994 were:

Netherlands: lost 1–2
Morocco: won 2–1
Belgium: won 1–0 (Al-Owairan)

Those two wins sent the team into the Round of 16, where Sweden won 3–1 to end the run. No Saudi side has matched it since.

1998 to 2006: three tough campaigns

Across the 1998, 2002 and 2006 finals, Saudi Arabia exited at the group stage every time without a single win, according to FIFA’s records. The low point came in 2002.

At Korea/Japan 2002, the Kingdom lost its opener 8–0 to Germany — one of the heaviest defeats in World Cup history. Losses to Cameroon and Ireland followed, and the team went home without scoring.

The three campaigns produced just two draws and no wins:

France 1998: drew with South Africa, lost to Denmark and France
Korea/Japan 2002: lost all three matches, conceding 12 goals
Germany 2006: drew with Tunisia, lost to Ukraine and Spain

Saudi Arabia then missed both the 2010 and 2014 World Cups, failing to qualify, before returning in 2018.

The modern era: beating Egypt and Argentina

Saudi Arabia’s two most famous wins came at the last two World Cups — over Egypt in 2018 and Argentina in 2022. Both featured Salem Al-Dawsari, the Kingdom’s modern talisman.

At Russia 2018, the team lost heavily to the hosts and to Uruguay, but signed off with a 2–1 win over Egypt in a final group game. Salman Al-Faraj and Al-Dawsari scored.

Then came the result that stunned the world. At Qatar 2022, Saudi Arabia beat eventual champions Argentina 2–1 in the opening match, with Saleh Al-Shehri and an Al-Dawsari strike overturning a Lionel Messi penalty.

The team couldn’t build on it, losing to Poland and Mexico to go out in the group. Even so, the Argentina result is one of the biggest upsets the tournament has seen.

Saudi Arabia at the 2026 World Cup

Saudi Arabia sits bottom of Group H with one point after two matches, and must beat Cape Verde on 26 June to have any chance of advancing. The group also contains former champions Spain and Uruguay, per Sky Sports.

The team opened with a 1–1 draw against Uruguay, then lost 4–0 to Spain on 21 June, according to Al Jazeera. That leaves the Green Falcons fourth in the group.

Follow Saudi’s team match schedule with our guide:

Saudi Arabia Match at the FIFA World Cup 2026: Group, Schedule and Kick-Off Times (Saudi Time)

Saudi Arabia comes into the campaign under a new coach. Greek manager Georgios Donis was appointed in April 2026 after the federation parted ways with Hervé Renard.

Fans following the team can track flights and match-city routes on the Wego flight tracker. The Group H finale plays out across Houston and Guadalajara.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Saudi Arabia’s best World Cup result?

The Round of 16 at USA 1994, the only time the team has reached the knockout stage. They went out 3–1 to Sweden.

How many times has Saudi Arabia played at the World Cup?

Seven finals so far: 1994, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2018, 2022 and 2026. The 2034 tournament will be their eighth, as hosts.

Did Saudi Arabia really beat Argentina at the World Cup?

Yes. Saudi Arabia beat Argentina 2–1 in the opening match of Qatar 2022, one of the tournament’s biggest upsets. Argentina went on to win the title.

Can Saudi Arabia still qualify from the 2026 group stage?

Only with a win over Cape Verde on 26 June, and they will need other results to fall their way. They sit fourth in Group H with one point after two games.