Fiery Words from a Saudi Legend Ahead of the Saudi-Iraq World Cup Qualifier
12 October 2025
Pre-match rally from a Saudi legend
Saeed Al-Owairan, the Saudi football legend, sent a motivational message to the national team that also carried a blunt critique of the Green's recent form.
Saudi Arabia is preparing for a decisive World Cup qualifier against Iraq, a match that could seal direct qualification.
Saudi Arabia defeated Indonesia 3-2, while Iraq defeated Indonesia in the other recent fixture, leaving the direct route to the 2026 World Cup in the balance.
In an interview with Okaz, Al-Owairan urged the players to give their best to please the fans and clinch a World Cup berth, while not shying away from calling out recent lapses.
He told them, you brought us to this moment; if we had won earlier, we might not be in this last-minute calculation.
Fortunately, there are multiple paths to qualification, and strong public support and bonuses after the last World Cup campaign provide extra motivation.
He noted that while Indonesia has improved, they are not the main threat and that the 2-3 loss could have been avoided with tighter focus.
Al-Owairan praised the fans for their unwavering backing, saying the atmosphere when supporters traveled from Riyadh to Jeddah was wonderful.
Al-Owairan’s own legacy is highlighted by a famous solo goal against Belgium in 1994, earning him Man of the Match and helping Saudi reach the knockout stage.
The piece also references a coaching duel between Renard and Arnold as Saudi faces Iraq in the Asian playoff context.
Okaz notes that Renard had the edge when Arnold was in charge of Australia, with one win and one draw, while Arnold has yet to beat Renard.
Saudi holds a clear advantage heading into the home match, leading the group on goals with Iraq level on points.
Saudi defeated Indonesia 3-2, and Indonesia’s hopes for direct qualification were dashed as Iraq won the other key tie.
Asian playoff rules mean the group winner goes directly to the World Cup finals, while the runner-up advances to a two-leg tie to reach the global playoff.
Abdullah Al-Hamdan’s recovery from a cold provides a boost as he returns to training ahead of the Iraq clash at the Al-Inma stadium in Mecca.
Hamdan has been a mainstay for the Green since 2019, earning 38 appearances and scoring 10 goals with two assists.
Last international window he showed form, scoring against North Macedonia and another against the Czech Republic in friendly matches.
Everything remains in Saudi hands; a win or even a draw on Tuesday would seal direct qualification, with goal difference as a potential tiebreaker.
Punchline 1: If the ball could talk, it would ask for a raise after all these saves.
Punchline 2: My calculator just spilled coffee trying to predict the playoff path.
