Green Ambition at Home: Can Saudi Arabia Extend Their Unbeaten Run Against Iraq?

Match Preview

The Al-Inma Stadium in Jeddah will host Saudi Arabia vs Iraq on October 14, as part of the AFC playoff for the 2026 World Cup. The venue, King Abdullah Sports City, is now commonly called Al-Inma and is celebrated as the “Shining Jewel” by fans, thanks to the Green's strong performances there.

Saudi media notes that Al-Inma has become a stage for home celebrations, having witnessed many continental wins and decisive qualifiers. The Green have played 15 matches on this pitch without a defeat, a stat fans love to reference with a grin.

In those games, Saudi Arabia recorded 12 wins and 3 draws, scoring 32 goals while conceding just 9—a rare tally that underscores the Falcons' dominance on their favorite ground and doubles as a shield in major occasions.

The recent 3-2 victory over Indonesia in the opening AFC playoff round is cited as another chapter in the team's continued excellence on this surface, fueling optimism ahead of the Iraq clash.

Saudi Arabia will face Iraq on October 14, following Iraq's earlier fixture with Indonesia in the same qualifying window.

Team News and Key Updates

The squad will conduct a closed training session today on the secondary pitch at King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah in preparation for Iraq.

Coach Hervé Renard is expected to test some tactical approaches he intends to use against the “Lions of Mesopotamia,” with Sunday’s session planned as the main workout.

In a setback, Abdul Rahman Al-Aboud, a winger for Al-Ittihad, has been ruled out of the Iraq match after suffering a jaw injury in Thursday's training.

Medical scans showed the injury, and the 30-year-old forward was referred to a specialist in a Jeddah hospital to determine an appropriate treatment plan, in coordination with both the national team and club medical staff.

Al-Aboud's career includes notable spells with Al-Ettifaq and Al-Arabi, but his most prolonged stint came with Al-Ittihad, where he featured 148 times, scoring 13 times and delivering 22 assists. Internationally, he has 11 caps and two goals, with his first call-up at the end of 2021. He also played a key role in Al-Ittihad's league and cup double last season.

Vital weapon

Saleh Abu Al-Shamat, 23, has been cleared to feature normally against Iraq after recovering from Indonesia-related fitness issues; he did not complete the second half against Indonesia, but impressed in the first half and scored his first international goal.

He underwent a medical test on Thursday that confirmed only fatigue as the issue.

Saleh Abu Al-Shamat earned the second-highest rating among Saudi players in the Indonesia match, 7.9, behind Firas Al-Brikan who scored twice.

Eight Wins Record

Coach Hervé Renard continues to chase his eighth win with the Saudi national team in his second spell, which began in October 2024, replacing Italy's Roberto Mancini. Renard has overseen 17 matches in this period, recording seven wins, seven losses, and four draws.

Shadows of Al-Dosari

Captain Salem Al-Dosari's form has become a topic of conversation; his level has slipped, making him seem like a shadow in Saudi matches. He has appeared 13 times for Saudi in the WC 2026 qualifiers (second and third rounds and playoffs), scoring two goals and providing one assist. He did not score for Saudi in the 2023 AFC Asian Cup, with only one assist in four games overall. In the 2024 Gulf Cup, he scored one goal and assisted another in four games, his only goal in the tournament coming from a penalty.

Dosari also missed three of his last three penalties with the national team, all in the third round of the WC 2026 qualifiers, including one against Indonesia where the Indonesian goalkeeper Martin Bays denied the attempt during the clash last Wednesday.

Two punchlines to close this preview: first, if the ball had a mood ring, tonight it would glow green when the whistle blows; second, Renard’s playbook is so tight that even the stadium lights need a timeout. Enjoy the match!