Chasing the Seventh Dream: Saudi Arabia's Do-or-Die Route to the 2026 World Cup
7 October 2025
Painful memories return as Saudi Arabia’s green-and-white hopes ride on a do-or-die playoff against Indonesia in Jeddah, a fixture that could unlock the World Cup 2026 dream in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
The Saudis will play two matches in Asia's playoff, starting with Indonesia on Wednesday evening, then facing Iraq on October 14, a potential decider for a World Cup ticket.
Despite the strong motivation of players and coach Herve Renard, the shadow of 2010 still haunts fans as memories of the painful Asian playoff that saw qualification slip away to Bahrain come to the fore.
The Hard Road to the Seventh Dream
The Green arrive with extensive experience in continental qualifiers and a track record of reaching the World Cup six times, most recently in Qatar 2022.
But the team could not seal direct passage in the current third round, suffering a 1-2 loss to Australia in the final round in Jeddah, dropping to third in Group three behind Japan and Australia and forcing another playoff campaign.
Under AFC rules, group winners advance directly, while runners-up enter the playoff to determine Asia's last qualifier, with the winner joining the continental playoff in March.
Memories from 2010
Returning to the playoff path brought back 2010's memories, when Saudi faced Bahrain in a decisive two-legged tie for a World Cup spot.
The first leg in Manama ended goalless, while the second leg in Riyadh finished 2-2, with Bahrain progressing on away goals and ending the Green’s World Cup dream in dramatic fashion.
That moment remains the only time in the last six qualifying campaigns that the team reached the playoff; this year the task carries the weight of history and the pressure to rewrite the ending.
Renard and the Comeback Call
In 2010, the campaign unfolded under a string of coaching changes, reflecting the broader turbulence of that era, before a renewed push with a different leadership approach. Today, Renard leads a refreshed Saudi side, blending emerging talents with seasoned players from the Qatar World Cup squad and promising a new era of balance and belief.
Renard has emphasized modernization and depth, noting that half the squad has changed in recent months but the improvement is visible on the training ground and in performances.
In the buildup to the match, the coach underscored the collective focus: the team must be physically and mentally tough, and the collective vow is clear—if we qualify, it will be as a united group, not a collection of individuals.
We are ready for Indonesia, and we will push to reach the World Cup from here. Previous campaigns showed that 2018 and 2022 yielded breakthroughs when the team stayed focused, and the leadership insists the current group can repeat that success with a disciplined, high-intensity approach.
The renewal is evident, and Renard believes the technical staff has steered the side in the right direction, with clear development on display in training and friendlies ahead of the first leg.
Between Fans' Ambition and History's Lesson
The next two games represent a pivotal moment in Saudi Arabia’s World Cup journey: a win over Indonesia would bring them closer to the dream, before a clash with Iraq in the following round.
Yet the public remains cautiously anxious, mindful of 2010's nightmare when qualification slipped away at the final whistle, a memory that still colors the current chase.
Punchline 1: If nerves were a sharpshooter, Saudi fans would be hitting nothing but bullseyes—unfortunately the scoreboard still holds the target and the clock isn’t listening.
Punchline 2: History may be heavy, but the ball is lighter when it hits the back of the net—let’s hope the Green find that sweet moment sooner rather than later.
