Al-Dosari's Tearful Promise as Saudi Arabia Clinches World Cup 2026 Berth
14 October 2025
Saudi Arabia clinches World Cup 2026 ticket after Iraq draw
Saudi Arabia earned a place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup following a goalless draw with Iraq in the AFC playoff final. The Green Falcons topped their Asian playoff group with four points, edging Iraq on goal difference and securing a seventh World Cup appearance for the kingdom, as well as a third consecutive finals run.
Forward Salem Al-Dosari, of Al-Hilal, was named Man of the Match for his decisive contribution, and he broke into tears as qualification became official. He thanked the loyal fans in the stadium and pledged to keep working hard to honor Saudi football on the world stage.
Renard’s leadership continues to leave a lasting mark on Saudi football, with this qualification marking his second World Cup with the Greens and making him the first coach to guide Saudi to two World Cup finals. The article also recalls past Saudi coaches who helped build the path to the World Cup, including Mohammed Khraishi, Otto Pfister, Slobodan Santraš, Gabriel Calderón, Bert van Marwijk and others who laid the foundation for this achievement.
The match ended without a goal, but Saudi Arabia secured qualification thanks to their earlier results and final group standings. They will join the United States, Canada and Mexico as hosts for the 2026 tournament.
Renard enters Saudi history as the first coach to lead the Greens to two World Cup appearances. Under his tenure, Saudi played 10 qualifying matches, recording seven wins, two draws, one loss, scoring 12 goals and conceding six, for a total of 23 points.
Player ratings
Nawaf Al-Aqidi: 6.6
Ayman Yahya: 7.4
Hassan Tambakti: 7.2
Jihad Dakri: 7.2
Saud Abdulhamid: 7.5
Abdullah Khubayri: 7.4
Nasser Al-Dosari: 7.7
Salem Al-Dosari: 6.9
Musab Al-Juwaer: 7.4
Saleh Abu Al-Shamat: 8.0
Firas Al-Buraikan: 7.1
The article notes that Abu Al-Shamat earned the top rating, underscoring his recent impact with the national team.
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Punchline time
Punchline 1: If defending a lead were an Olympic sport, Saudi would take gold, silver, and a victory lap—feathers in the foam finger edition.
Punchline 2: The only thing sharper than Renard’s tactics is the fans’ chants—the stadium turned into a living highlight reel of cheers.
