Arab Cup 2025 Reality Check: Has Saudi Arabia Fallen Out of the Contenders' Circle?

Overview

Saleh Almutlaq, the former Saudi football star, says the Saudi national team is not among the top Arab Cup 2025 squads, despite their quarterfinal berth.

The Saudi squad were the first to reach the Arab Cup quarterfinals, after victories over Oman and Comoros in the opening two rounds, before Jordan and Iraq joined the mix.

Green Falcons will play their Moroccan rivals tomorrow, Monday, in the third round of the group stage, a match seen as a formality by many observers.

He said in a TV interview: I have watched most of the Arab Cup 2025 games, but I cannot place the Saudi team among the top three squads in the tournament.

He added: There is a saying I always use, the decisive moment in football shifts gradually from skill to power, and that transition is not in our favor; most teams excel there.

And he warned: That could be a problem for us at the World Cup; with only six months left, we will not be able to change much there.

Saudi Arabia will compete in World Cup 2026 in Group Eight alongside Spain, Uruguay and Cape Verde.

Context & Takeaways

Some observers may view Almutlaq s remarks as blunt, but they highlight a broader debate about where the Saudi team stands on the world stage and what improvements are needed before the 2026 tournament.

Punchline 1: If football is chess, Saudi is still looking for the queen after the first move.

Punchline 2: If optimism were a goal, they would be top of the league, just not a very efficient one.