Flooded Seats, Green Ambitions: Saudi Arabia Opens World Cup Qualifiers with Indonesia Sold Out
7 October 2025
Saudi Arabia Ready for World Cup Qualifier Playoff against Indonesia
The Saudi national team will enjoy full vocal support as they begin their World Cup 2026 playoff campaign against Indonesia on Wednesday at the Al-Inma Stadium in Jeddah. The Green hope to secure a positive result at the start of their campaign before meeting Iraq on October 14 in the second and final round; the group winner advances directly to the finals.
A statement from the Saudi fans council on X confirmed that tickets for the Green's match against Indonesia have sold out, meaning the stands will be packed for this eagerly awaited clash.
The Saudi Football Federation also announced the sell-out on its official account, highlighting the public’s passion to back their team on the road to what could be a seventh World Cup appearance in the team's history.
Al-Inma Stadium, known as the Jewel in the Crown, accommodates 65,000 spectators.
Team selection
Renard, the French coach, named a balanced squad for the Asian playoff run, avoiding major surprises. The list includes:
Goalkeepers: Nawaf Al-Aqidi, Abdulrahman Al-Saibi, Mohammed Al-Yami, Ragid Al-Najjar.
Defenders: Meteb Al-Harbi, Jihad Dhikri, Mohammed Suleiman, Saad Al-Mousa, Hassan Tombaketi, Ali Majrshi, Saud Abdulhameed.
Midfielders: Nasser Al-Dosari, Ali Al-Hassan, Musab Al-Juwair, Ziad Al-Jahni, Mohammad Kanno, Abdullah Al-Khibri, Nawaf Boshil.
Forwards: Salem Al-Dosari, Abdulrahman Al-Aboud, Ayman Yahya, Abdullah Al-Hamdan, Saleh Abu Shamat, Mohanned Al-Sa’d, Marwan Al-Sahafi, Saleh Al-Shehri, Firas Al-Brekan.
Aspiring for redemption
The Saudi team enters the Asian qualifiers with renewed intent, chasing redemption after failing to secure one of the direct tickets from a group led by Japan and Australia. The AFC’s revised format expands the World Cup to 48 teams with eight and a half direct seats for Asia, and five rounds were introduced to ensure fair competition and gradual progression.
Renard has emphasized that changes to the squad were part of a broader plan, with half the players rotated since January. He insisted that the team has evolved technically and will show whether the progress translates on the field tomorrow.
Renard closed by asserting that the squad is on the right track and that strength and unity will be essential to reach the World Cup, adding: “We will qualify for the World Cup together.”
Renard also noted that in January he reshuffled the squad, with 50% of players changing, and he remains confident in their ongoing development and readiness to perform when it matters most.
