Saudi Arabia

Founding and Early Years

The Saudi Arabia national team, nicknamed "the Green Falcons," is governed by the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF), founded in 1956. It established itself in the 1980s-90s as one of the very top powers of Asian football.

Team Evolution

Boosted by the kingdom's massive recent investment in football, the Saudi national team has produced several stunning upsets against much higher-ranked opponents, including a famous win over eventual champions Argentina in their opening match at the 2022 World Cup.

Great Managers

Hervé Renard, a French head coach renowned for his success with several African national teams, leads the Green Falcons and guided them to that historic win over Argentina in 2022.

Iconic Players

Saeed Al-Owairan, scorer of the famous solo goal against Belgium at the 1994 World Cup, and Majed Abdullah, regarded as the greatest Saudi striker of all time, defined the great moments of Saudi football. Sami Al-Jaber, the country's second all-time top scorer, and Salem Al-Dawsari, the current captain and scorer of the winning goal against Argentina in 2022, embody this tradition of standout moments.

Major Achievements

Saudi Arabia have won three AFC Asian Cup titles (1984, 1988, 1996). At the 2026 World Cup, they were eliminated in the group stage, drawing with Uruguay (1-1), losing to Spain (0-4), and drawing with Cape Verde (0-0).

The Team Today

Under Hervé Renard, Saudi Arabia rank among the top nations of the Asian continent in the FIFA World Ranking, driven by growing investment in the development of the national game.