Saudi national football team arrives in Japan for World Cup qualifiers

The match between Saudi Arabia and Japan will take place on Tuesday at the Saitama Stadium 2002 and is part of the seventh round of the Asian qualifiers for the World Cup.  (SPA)
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Updated 22 March 2025
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Saudi national football team arrives in Japan for World Cup qualifiers

The Saudi national football team arrived in Japan on Friday ahead of the team’s match for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. 

The match between Saudi Arabia and Japan will take place on Tuesday at the Saitama Stadium 2002 and is part of the seventh round of the Asian qualifiers for the World Cup. 

The team was greeted by Saudi Deputy Ambassador to Japan Anas Al-Nuwaiser and several embassy staff members on arriving at Japan’s Narita International Airport. 

On Thursday, Japan became the first team to qualify for the World Cup after winning 2-0 against Bahrain, followed by Saudi Arabia after defeating China 1-0. 


‘Relieved’ Rahm wins LIV Golf event in Hong Kong

Updated 08 March 2026
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‘Relieved’ Rahm wins LIV Golf event in Hong Kong

  • Jon Rahm said he was “very relieved” after scoring a final-round 64 to win the LIV Golf event in Hong Kong by three shots on Sunday

HONGKONG: Jon Rahm said he was “very relieved” after scoring a final-round 64 to win the LIV Golf event in Hong Kong by three shots on Sunday.
It was the 31-year-old Spaniard’s first victory since LIV Golf Chicago in 2024 and ended a run of four runner-up finishes on the Saudi-backed circuit.
“Very relieved, just happy I could enjoy the walk down the 18th,” the two-time major champion said at Hong Kong Golf Club after finishing on 23-under, with Thomas Detry of Belgium second.
“I played really good all day,” said Rahm, who made eight birdies against two bogeys in his final round at Fanling.
Rahm, who celebrated his third LIV win, added: “Even though I shot six-under, what could have been with quite a few short putts missed and an errant shot on 18.
“It was incredible. But I just tried to stay very patient and committed to each shot, knowing that I was doing everything right and things were going to happen.
“I think that was the theme pretty much every round this week.”
Runner-up Detry was only able to play in Hong Kong after Rahm arranged a private jet to fly the Belgian and several other LIV players out of the Middle East.
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