RIYADH: Saudi footballers continued their preparations for the 2023 Asian Cup with two training sessions on Tuesday.
Team coach Roberto Mancini led both morning and evening sessions and focused the team on various technical and conditioning routines.
Ali Hazazi and Khaled Al-Ghanam were released from the squad after the final list of players were finalized by Mancini.
The competition, which was postponed to 2024, is set to start on Jan. 12 in Qatar and will see the Green Falcons face Thailand, Kyrgyzstan and Oman in Group F.
But ahead of that, the Saudi team will face Lebanon in a friendly on Thursday at Al-Gharafa Club’s stadium at 4:30PM local time.
They will have an evening training session on Wednesday at Sealine Resort’s stadium.
Saudi footballers ready for Asian Cup at Qatar training camp
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Saudi footballers ready for Asian Cup at Qatar training camp
Roma defender Saud Abdulhamid makes history as 1st Saudi to score in European championship
- Historic goal came with Roma already leading 1-0 against SC Braga in the Europa League group stage
- Abdulhamid in August became the 1st Saudi player to join a top European side on a permanent basis
ROME: AS Roma’s right-back defender Saud Abdulhamid made history on Thursday after becoming the first Saudi player to score in a European championship when his club beat SC Braga 3-0.
Roma were leading 1-0 against their Portuguese rivals at Olimpico Stadium in the UEFA Europa League group stage when Abdulhameed scored his historic goal in the 47th minute, taking the score to 2-0.
Abdulhamid in August became the first Saudi player to join a top European side on a permanent basis, leaving Saudi powerhouse Al-Hilal to sign for AS Roma in Italy’s Serie A for a reported $3 million fee.
Since he joined the Serie A club at the beginning of 2024/2025 season, the 25-year-old defender has played five games — two in the Italian competition, and three in the Europa League.
Spanish defender Mario Hermoso scored Roma’s third goal.
Green Falcons in training camp for 26th Gulf Cup in Kuwait
- Herve Renard has called up 28 players in preparation for tournament from Dec. 21 to Jan. 3
- Green Falcons play a friendly behind closed doors against Trinidad and Tobago on Dec. 17 at Al-Shabab Stadium
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s national football team began a closed training camp on Thursday, until Dec. 20, for the 26th Gulf Cup in Kuwait.
The Green Falcons will play a friendly match behind closed doors against Trinidad and Tobago on Dec. 17 at Al-Shabab Club Stadium.
The team depart for Kuwait on Friday. They are placed in Group B alongside Iraq, Bahrain and Yemen for the tournament that runs from Dec. 21 to Jan. 3.
Head coach Herve Renard has called up 28 players.
The squad includes Mohammed Al-Owais, Ahmed Al-Kassar, Mohammed Al-Yami, Nawaf Al-Aqidi, Yasser Al-Shahrani, Ali Al-Bulaihi, Abdulelah Al-Amri, Ali Lajami, Hassan Tambakti, Muhannad Al-Shanqeeti, Sultan Al-Ghannam, Nawaf Boushal and Nasser Al-Dawsari.
Also joining are Abdulelah Al-Malki, Abdullah Al-Khaibari, Musab Al-Juwair, Abdulmalik Al-Ayeri, Mohammed Kanoo, Salem Al-Dawsari, Abdulelah Al-Hawsawi, Abdullah Al-Hamdan, Ayman Falata, Abdulaziz Al-Othman, Haroune Camara, Abdullah Radif, Mohammed Al-Qahtani, Firas Al-Buraikan, and Saleh Al-Shehri.
Saudi Arabia lights up after being named as host for FIFA World Cup 2034
- Dazzling firework displays reflected the spirit of unity and excitement surrounding the country’s historic achievement
- In celebration, dynamic drone shows are to captivate audiences in Riyadh, Jeddah, Alkhobar, and Abha
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia is celebrating being chosen as host of the FIFA World Cup 2034 with a series of events across the country.
The football-themed festivities, which run until Dec. 14, invite citizens and residents to showcase their national pride by wearing football jerseys and sharing their moments on social media using the hashtag #Saudi2034.
Fireworks illuminated the skies of Riyadh, Jeddah, Alkhobar, Abha, NEOM, Al-Qassim, and Jubail at 8:34 p.m. on Wednesday, after the official announcement from an online ceremony that was broadcast at a Riyadh event attended by Sports Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal and other officials.
The dazzling displays reflected the spirit of unity and excitement surrounding the country’s historic achievement.
In celebration, dynamic drone shows are to captivate audiences in Riyadh, Jeddah, Alkhobar, and Abha.
There will also be an air show in Riyadh on Dec. 12 over the skies of King Abdullah Financial District, King Fahd Stadium, and King Fahd Road.
Riyadh’s municipality handed out scarves to football fans in Tahlia Street, Takhassusi Street, and Prince Turki bin Abdulaziz Road, and organized events with traditional dances at various urban parks.
A number of institutions held watch parties at the time of the announcement ceremony, including the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology.
Parks and buildings were adorned with Saudi flags, while public spaces in a number of cities and regions were bathed in green light to mark the occasion.
A series of public gatherings will take place until Dec. 14 between 5:15 p.m. and 11 p.m. at Boulevard City, Laysen Valley, Roshn Front, and Bujairi Terrace in Riyadh; and the Corniche Circuit, Roshn Waterfront, Corniche Obhur, Prince Majid Park, King Abdulaziz Cultural Center, and the Municipality Building in Jeddah.
Elsewhere, celebrations will take place at the Corniche, Half Moon Beach, Tharwa Corniche, and King Abdullah Park in Alkhobar; and Beach District Plaza Al-Baha Mall, Al-Hawiya Walk, Boulevard, and the Winter Festival in Al-Baha; in Buraydah at Bukhari Street; and in Abha at Al-Bahar Square, Art Street, Veranda, Ariash, High City, and Midmac.
Hail will host gatherings on Dec. 13 from 5:15 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Al Fajr Walkway and Bahjah Park.
These activities offer football fans an opportunity to come together and share in the joyful atmosphere.
Crown Prince congratulates King Salman on Saudi Arabia’s successful bid to host World Cup 2034
- The Crown Prince confirmed Saudi Arabia’s strong commitment to contribute to the development of football worldwide
- Later on Wednesday, Prince Mohammed announced the establishment of the “Supreme Authority for Hosting the 2034 World Cup”
RIYADH: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman congratulated King Salman, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, on Saudi Arabia’s successful bid to host the FIFA World Cup 2034.
The Crown Prince confirmed Saudi Arabia’s strong commitment to contribute to the development of football sport worldwide and promoting messages of love, peace and tolerance.
He highlighted the Kingdom’s significant capabilities, the enthusiasm of the Saudi people, and their ability to overcome challenges, which ultimately led to their successful bid to host the World Cup 2034, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
On Wednesday, FIFA announced that Saudi Arabia will host the international football tournament in 2034.
Later on Wednesday, the crown prince announced the establishment of the “Supreme Authority for Hosting the 2034 World Cup.”
Setting up the authority showed the Kingdom’s determination to present an exceptional version of the tournament, SPA said.
Saudi Arabia became the first country in FIFA’s history to solely host the expanded format of the World Cup with 48 teams, featuring 16 additional football teams for the first time since Qatar’s World Cup 2022, SPA reported.
The US, Mexico and Canada will host the expanded format of World Cup 2026, while the 2030 event is set to take place in Morocco, Spain and Portugal.
In July, Saudi Arabia officially submitted its bid to host the World Cup 2034 under the slogan “Growing Together.”
The Kingdom will host the football matches in 15 stadiums across five cities, including Riyadh, Jeddah, Al-Khobar, Abha and Neom.
It also plans to host entertainment activities for World Cup fans in 10 sites, including King Salman Park and the Jeddah Waterfront Park.
Saudi Arabia’s greatest World Cup moments
- Al-Owairan received the ball inside his own half and embarked on an astonishing run that saw one Belgian defender after another beaten, before finishing past Michel Preud’homme
- Saleh Al-Shehri equalized straight after the break and just five minutes later Salem Dawsari sent Saudi and Arab fans wild with one of the tournament’s most stunning goals
DUBAI: Saudi Arabia has taken part in six World Cup tournaments, an Arab record it shares with Morocco and Tunisia. Here are our favorite Green Falcons moments from football’s grandest stage.
5. Saudi defeat Egypt to end winless streak (Russia 2018)
Saudi Arabia returned to the World Cup after an absence of 12 years at Russia 2018 and while there would be no progress from the group stage as there was in the Green Falcons’ debut at USA 1994, there was a first win since that tournament 24 years earlier.
Saudi suffered a painful 5-0 defeat against the hosts on the opening day of the tournament and followed that up with a narrow 1-0 loss against Uruguay. It meant that while the final Group A match against fellow Arab qualifiers Egypt was a dead rubber, pride was very much still at stake.
Mohamed Salah, after a stellar season for Liverpool, gave Egypt a 1-0 lead, but deep into stoppage time at the end of the first half, Salman Al-Faraj equalized from the penalty spot.
As the clock passed the 90-minute mark it looked like both teams would be heading home without a win, but Salem Al-Dawsari scored in the 95th minute to make it 2-1 and end the Green Falcon’s 15-match winless World Cup streak.
4. Almost a perfect send-off for Sami Al-Jaber (Germany 2006)
It was almost the ideal end for arguably Saudi Arabia’s greatest ever footballer.
The 2006 World Cup in Germany may not have ended up being too fondly remembered by Saudi fans but it did provide an early moment which hinted at a repeat of the team’s 1994 heroics.
The Green Falcons’ opening match against Tunisia at the Allianz Arena in Munich saw the North African team take the lead from Ziad Jaziri after only 23 minutes but the Saudis struck back with a fine finish by Yasser Al-Qahtani on 57 minutes.
Enter Al-Jaber. Wearing his favored No. 9 green shirt, he was introduced as a substitute after 82 minutes and within moments he was bearing down on Tunisian goalkeeper Ali Boumnijel with the goal at his mercy. Al-Jaber did not disappoint, scoring Saudi’s second before being mobbed by his ecstatic teammates.
Unfortunately for the team managed by Marcos Paqueta, Tunisia equalized in the dying seconds and Saudi went on to lose their next two matches against Ukraine and Spain.
But at least Al-Jaber’s fourth and last World Cup had ended like his first, with a goal for his beloved Saudi Arabia.
3. Al-Ghesheyan stunner gives Saudi a fleeting dream (US 1994)
Saudi Arabia had already created history by progressing from the group stages at the US World Cup in 1994 and their reward was a round of 16 clash with Sweden, who would end up being one of the teams of the tournament.
In the stifling heat of Cotton Bowl in Dallas, the Green Falcons, fresh off a stunning win over Belgium in their previous match, put on brave display but found themselves two goals down after an early header from Martin Dahlin and a strike from Kennet Andersson six minutes after the break.
Just as it looked like an exhausted team was only minutes from heading home, up popped substitute Fahad Al-Ghesheyan to breathe life into Saudi Arabia’s World Cup campaign and allow the fans to dream again.
The 21-year-old collected the ball inside the Swedish penalty area and unleashed a right-foot strike into the roof of the net five minutes from time to suddenly give Saudi hope of a stunning comeback.
But just two minutes later, Andersson scored his second to give Sweden a 3-1 win and eliminate the Falcons from the competition. They had become the first Arab nation to reach the last 16 in their first attempt and no team from the region would progress further until 2022.
2. Al-Owairan scores one of the World Cup’s greatest goals (USA 1994)
To Diego Maradona’s iconic solo goal against England in 1986 and Roberto Baggio’s international career-launching strike against Czechoslovakia in 1990, you can add Saeed Al-Owairan’s remarkable winner against Belgium in 1994.
Saudi Arabia’s debut at the World Cup had ended with a 2-1 loss to reigning European champions the Netherlands at the RFK Stadium in Washington D.C., but in their second Group F match, they managed an excellent 2-1 win over Morocco at the Giants Stadium in New York.
It meant that progress to the last 16 would depend on their result against Belgium, and the Green Falcons would go on to record one of their greatest ever results back at the RFK.
Only five minutes into the match, Al-Owairan received the ball inside his own half and embarked on an astonishing run that saw one Belgian defender after another beaten, before the forward finished past stranded goalkeeper Michel Preud’homme.
The stunned Belgians had no answer to that goal in the next 85 minutes. Saudi Arabia, in their first World Cup, were heading to the last 16 and Al-Owairan had written his name alongside the World Cup greats.
1. Saudi claim greatest win over Messi’s Argentina (Qatar 2022)
There can be few debates about Saudi Arabia’s greatest World Cup moment.
Few people would have given Herve Renard’s team much hope of a victory when they took on Lionel Messi and Argentina at Lusail Stadium on Nov. 22, 2022.
And sure enough it was the Argentine maestro who gave the South Americans the lead on 10 minutes from the penalty spot. But the expected Argentinian procession did not materialize. Instead, the Falcons, through gritty defending and smart counterattacks, slowly grew into the game.
The second half would be a revelation. First Saleh Al-Shehri equalized straight after the break and just five minutes later Salem Dawsari sent Saudi and Arab fans in the stadium and around the world wild with one of the tournament’s most stunning goals.
Messi and his colleagues would go on to win the World Cup, but that day they had no answer to Saudi Arabia’s tigerish performance.
There would be no progress from the group stage for the Falcons, but the 2-1 scoreline gave them their most famous victory and they would end the tournament as the eventual world champions’ only conquerors.