Arabia Saudyjska na Mundialu 2026

Saudi Arabia shocked the world at the 2022 World Cup with a 2-1 victory over Argentina in the group stage — arguably the greatest upset in World Cup history. Lionel Messi opened the scoring from the penalty spot, then Salem Al-Dawsari produced one of the goals of the tournament. The rest of the campaign was more sobering (losses to Poland and Mexico), but that Argentina result cemented Saudi football in the global consciousness.

Group H with Spain, Uruguay and Cape Verde is another incredibly tough draw. Saudi Arabia's best chance is to replicate the 2022 formula: produce one magic result against a giant (Spain or Uruguay) and hope the rest falls into place. A third-place finish ahead of Cape Verde is the minimum target; upsetting Spain or Uruguay would require another historic performance.

Hervé Renard returned for a second spell in 2025, bringing his trademark high defensive line. The system is a disciplined 4-3-3 with a high defensive line — the same offside trap that caught Argentina in 2022. Salem Al-Dawsari remains the creative talisman. The Saudi Pro League's investment has improved squad depth. Strengths: 2022 Argentina upset mentality, Mancini's tactical organization, Al-Dawsari's individual brilliance. Weaknesses: domestic-league-only squad (no European exposure), physical limitations against top-tier athletes, and inconsistency beyond one-off performances.