SAITAMA, Japan: Saudi Arabia’s national football team arrived in Saitama, Japan, on Friday evening, where they will face their hosts on Tuesday in the seventh round of the Asian qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup.
The Green Falcons are expected to hold a closed training session on Mar. 22 at 7 p.m. at the sub-field of Saitama Stadium 2002 in preparation for their match against Japan.
The Saudi Arabian team arrived in Japan a day after beating 10-man China 1-0 in Riyadh to get their 2026 World Cup qualification campaign back on track.
Upon arriving at Narita International Airport, the Saudi delegation was welcomed by Anas Al-Nuwaiser, the Kingdom’s deputy ambassador to Japan, Ahmed Al-Fadhel, head of consular affairs, and Adel Al-Kunhail, head of protocol and relations, as well as members of the embassy staff.
The secretary-general of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation, Ibrahim Al-Qassem, expressed his thanks to the Saudi Embassy for their warm welcome and the support provided to the delegation upon arrival.
The national team left Riyadh earlier on Friday from King Khalid International Airport.
Saudi team arrive in Japan ahead of Tuesday’s 2026 World Cup qualifier
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Saudi team arrive in Japan ahead of Tuesday’s 2026 World Cup qualifier
- The Green Falcons will hold a closed training session tomorrow
- The Saudi team arrived in Japan a day after beating China 1-0
PSG, Marseille looking to bounce back after Champions League losses
- PSG are going through a mediocre patch, having lost two of their last three matches
- On paper, the task faced by Marseille are more difficult, hosting leader Lens
PARIS: After they were beaten midweek in the Champions League, Ligue 1 rivals Paris Saint-Germain and Marseille need to be more convincing back on the domestic stage.
PSG, which became European champion for the first time last season, lost at Sporting 2-1 and Marseille were overwhelmed by Liverpool 3-0 at home.
PSG are going through a mediocre patch, having lost two of their last three matches across competitions. Friday’s game at second-to-last Auxerre should help Luis Enrique’s team rebuild some confidence.
On paper, the task faced by Marseille are more difficult, hosting leader Lens at Stade Velodrome.
Key matchups
Lens travel south in full confidence after recording a 10th consecutive win across all competitions last weekend. Lens claimed their only French title in 1998 and have a one-point lead over defending champion PSG.
Third-placed Marseille, meanwhile, have been putting on brilliant displays and boast the league’s best attacking record, with 41 goals after 18 rounds. But the nine-time champion have also been inconsistent at the back. The setback to Liverpool marked the first time since March 2022 that Marseille lost back-to-back home games without scoring.
Before the trip to Auxerre, PSG boss Luis Enrique said it’s time for his team to take control of Ligue 1.
“We’re not yet where we want to be in the league,” he said. “We need to keep working hard and trying to win. We’re used to deep defensive blocks. That’s often how our opponents play against us. We want to become leaders but Lens are in great form with 10 consecutive wins. It’s exciting.”
Players to watch
Adrien Thomasson has played a crucial role in Lens’ rise to the top. Thomasson has been thriving since he was repositioned in a deeper role. Alongside PSG’s Vitinha, he is the joint top assist provider with six, and has two goals.
PSG defender Achraf Hakimi, back from the Africa Cup of Nations after losing with Morocco to Senegal in a chaotic final, won’t play against Auxerre. The club said he will train indoors this weekend.
Off the field
French magazine Paris Match reported this week that PSG and France defender Lucas Hernandez has been accused of human trafficking and undeclared work.
The magazine said a Colombian family accused the player and his wife of having employed them without a legal framework and with excessively long working hours. The Versailles public prosecutor’s office told French media that an investigation was underway.
