Last-Minute Glory: Saudi Arabia Punches World Cup 2026 Ticket with Nawaf Al-Aqidi’s Save
16 October 2025
Striker Saleh Al-Shehri opened a new chapter in his career, helping the Saudi national team qualify for the 2026 World Cup and placing his name among a new generation of greens carrying the seventh World Cup dream at the global tournament.
In a historic night in Jeddah, the Green Army secured a World Cup berth—set for summer 2026 in the United States, Canada, and Mexico—after a goalless draw with Iraq, finishing Group B with four points, equal on goal difference with the Iraqi side.
With this achievement, Saudi Arabia raised its World Cup tally to seven appearances, reaffirming its status as the most prominent Arab-Asian nation at the global showpiece and leading the Arab push toward a potential record in the history of the sport.
Al-Shehri spoke to the Saudi daily Al-Riyadia about the toughest two weeks of his career and the moment when the dream nearly slipped away, saved by Nawaf Al-Aqidi’s last-gasp intervention.
Relief and Qualification
Al-Shehri stressed that qualifying for the World Cup is a rare, special moment in any player's career, underscoring that reaching the finals is the ultimate dream for every footballer.
He added: It is a blessing to reach the World Cup; we are proud to secure our seventh spot. I extend congratulations to our leadership, the Sports Minister, the Saudi Federation, my teammates, and our amazing supporters who stood with us through the easy and hard times. We drew smiles on their faces and made them proud.
The forward also described the qualifying journey as challenging, with tough stages and stumbles, but he said the team overcame them through resolve, determination, and strong backing from the leadership and the Ministry of Sports.
He noted the last two weeks were the hardest of the campaign, saying they condensed all the nerves and pressure players feel on the road to qualification.
He stated that the Iraq clash was the toughest, given the anxiety and suspense, adding We entered the match with a win-or-draw mindset, but could not convert our chances.
Every passing minute heightened tension, especially since any Iraqi goal would complicate the scenario; the final moments were the hardest, but in the end we achieved the target and took the qualification.
Al-Aqidi’s save in the closing moments marked the real turning point, a heavy moment that recalled past World Cup scares, but this time Nawaf rose to the occasion, pushing the shot away and signaling the end of the match and our qualification.
The save by Nawaf Al-Aqidi of Al-Nassr showed high mental focus in the closing minutes, playing a pivotal role in the Green’s path to World Cup 2026.
Regarding the end of the ordeal, Al-Shehri said the whistle was the first moment he felt the dream was real, adding Not even the last second did I feel safe... the match was exhausting, full of tiny details that could have changed everything.
He concluded with an emotional message to Saudi fans, saying I dedicate this achievement to the Saudi people... their support never stopped, and their standing with us throughout these qualifiers deserves everything. Their joy is enough for me to move on from anything.
Message Before the Decider
Before the crucial Iraq game, Al-Shehri sent a strong message to the Green’s fans in the press conference: I thank the fans for their support in the last match... we know the importance of this game and want them to stand behind us so we can celebrate together.
He added: We go into the match aiming to win; if circumstances force a draw, qualification remains the priority. We will play the biggest match of the season and must stay focused to decide it.
The veteran striker also expressed strong trust in coach Herve Renard: We have shared many wonderful moments with him, and we have great confidence in his abilities and plans.
Saleh’s Numbers in the Qualifiers
During the 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign, Saleh Al-Shehri appeared in 10 matches for a total of 345 minutes, scoring four goals, including the Green’s opener against Pakistan in 2023 at the 6th minute, which is also the fastest goal in the team’s qualifiers.
Saudi Arabia will await the draw on December 5, with the group yet to be determined; the outcome will depend on November’s rankings.
Punchline 1: If this were a sniper contest, Saudi’s last-minute clampdown would be marked as a perfect headshot—timing so precise even a clock would salute.
Punchline 2: And if nerves were bullets, this squad just loaded a calm that would make even a veteran marksman crack a smile. Ready for the next stage, no scope required.
