Saudi Arabia’s national football team missed the opportunity to advance in the AFC qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup after a goalless draw against Bahrain at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah. This disappointing result follows draws between Japan and Australia and a victory for China over Indonesia in the third group stage of the qualifiers. Captain Salem Al-Dawsari missed a penalty during the match, further contributing to the underwhelming performance of coach Roberto Mancini’s team in recent games.
With five points accumulated from four matches, Saudi Arabia currently trails Australia on goal difference but remains ahead of Bahrain, who sits in fourth place in the group. After suffering a 2-0 loss to Japan in the previous round, the Saudi Football Federation sought to boost fan support by offering free tickets to the general seating area of the stadium. However, the crowd left disappointed as the national team failed to secure a victory against Bahrain.
Despite hopes for a breakthrough after a penalty was awarded following a VAR review, Bahrain’s goalkeeper Ibrahim Lutfi saved Al-Dawsari’s shot in the 20th minute. Bahrain employed a solid defensive strategy throughout the match, effectively closing off spaces for Saudi players and relying on counterattacks that posed minimal threat to goalkeeper Ahmed Al-Kassar. The second half saw no improvement in Saudi Arabia’s performance, with substitute Abdullah Radeef attempting a long-range shot and a weak effort that was easily handled by Lutfi before the final whistle.
The draw against Bahrain marked a missed opportunity for Saudi Arabia to secure a crucial win in the AFC qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup. With only a few matches remaining in the group stage, the national team will need to regroup and focus on improving their performance to advance in the qualifiers. Coach Roberto Mancini will be looking to address the team’s shortcomings and tactics to ensure better results in the upcoming matches.
Fans of the Saudi national team were left disappointed by the lackluster performance against Bahrain and the missed opportunity to secure a much-needed victory. The Saudi Football Federation’s decision to offer free tickets to boost fan support did not result in the desired outcome, as the team failed to deliver on the pitch. Moving forward, fan engagement and support will be crucial for the team as they aim to bounce back from this setback and secure wins in their remaining matches in the qualifiers.
Despite the disappointing draw, Saudi Arabia remains in contention for a spot in the 2026 World Cup, trailing Australia on goal difference in the group standings. With several matches left to play, the national team has an opportunity to turn their performance around and secure important wins to advance in the qualifiers. The players and coaching staff will need to work together to address their weaknesses and improve their tactics to ensure success in the remaining matches of the AFC qualifiers.
