Saudi Arabia march on to 2026 declaring “We’ve achieved something extraordinary”

TDT | Manama

Email : hussainm@newsofbahrain.com

Saudi Arabia are heading to the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a goalless draw with Iraq in Jeddah on Tuesday night was enough to send them through as Group B winners.

In front of more than 60,000 fans at the Alinma Stadium, the Green Falcons did what was required and just about held their nerve. Needing only a point to confirm their place, they absorbed long spells of Iraqi pressure before goalkeeper Nawaf Al Aqidi produced a superb stoppage-time save to push away Hassan Abdulkareem’s curling free-kick.

It was a night defined more by control than chaos. Hervé Renard’s side stayed compact, limited Iraq’s chances, and managed the tempo expertly. When the final whistle blew, the crowd erupted, knowing qualification for a third straight World Cup and seventh overall was finally secured.

“We’ve achieved something extraordinary,” said Al Aqidi, who was named player of the match. “The feeling is beyond words. Now it’s time to look forward to the World Cup.”

Striker Feras Al Buraikan, fresh from his brace against Indonesia last week, praised the home support. “The fans were unbelievable. They pushed us every second. This qualification belongs to them.”

For Renard, the result was another proud achievement in his tenure. “The atmosphere was magnificent,” he said. “It wasn’t easy, but we stayed calm and believed in our plan. The fans were the real winners tonight.” Saudi Arabia will now prepare for next summer’s expanded 48-team tournament across the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Their best run remains the Round of 16 in 1994. In Qatar 2022, they were eliminated in the group stage but famously beat eventual champions Argentina 2-1, while losing to Poland 2-0 and Mexico 2-1. Saudi Arabia is also slated to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup, signaling its long-term football ambitions With qualification sealed, Renard’s men can now shift their sights from survival to ambition.

The Green Falcons are flying again, and this time, they’ll look to soar even higher.