Current FIFA Ranking: 60
Highest FIFA Ranking: 21 (July 2004)
Lowest FIFA Ranking: 126 (Dec 2012)
Football Team Nickname: The Green
Honours: Asian Cup (3): 1984, 1988, 1996
Head coach: Herve Renard (since July 2019)
Top scorer in qualifying: Firas Al Buraikan (5)
Star players: Firas Al Buraikan (Al Ahli), Salem Al Dawsari (Al Hilal), Musab Al Juwayr (Al Qadsiyah)
Saudi Arabia shocked the world in 2022 when Salem Al Dawsari’s goal secured a 2-1 comeback win in the group stage against eventual winners Argentina – however, they came down from that high point with defeats against Poland and Mexico.
The 2034 hosts will feature in their 3rd consecutive World Cup and 7th overall but with the rare situation of having the same coach at consecutive finals, still under the stewardship of Herve Renard, who also led Morocco at the 2018 tournament.
They will hope to match the success of their 1994 campaign in the USA where Saeed Al-Owairan scored one of the most memorable World Cup goals, a solo effort in their 1-0 group stage victory against Belgium. This remains their only group stage progression.
Previous World Cup appearances (6):
2022: Group stage (Argentina, Poland, Mexico)
2018: Group stage
2006: Group stage
2002: Group stage
1998: Group stage
1994: Round of 16
