World Cup Warm-Up in Jeopardy: Will Iran's Strikes Doom Egypt-Saudi Friendly?
4 March 2026
Uncertainty Surrounds the Egypt-Saudi Friendly
A cloud of uncertainty surrounds the friendly match between Egypt and Saudi Arabia, as they prepare for the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The two teams were scheduled to meet on March 26 this month at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium in Doha, Qatar, but Iranian strikes on some Arab countries, including Qatar, raised doubts about the match taking place.
Mustafa Abu Zahra, a member of the Egyptian Football Association, confirmed in statements to the Saudi newspaper Al-Riyadia that the match would not be cancelled under any circumstances, especially given both associations' insistence on keeping the date.
All options regarding playing the friendly are on the table, and there is a strong desire to play it under any circumstances, even if the venue changes.
Some reports also mentioned changing the venue of the Finalissima between Spain and Argentina, scheduled for March 27 at Lusail Stadium in Doha.
Egypt is in the seventh group at the 2026 World Cup, alongside Belgium, New Zealand and Iran (if not withdrawn), while Saudi Arabia is in the eighth group with Spain, Uruguay and Cape Verde.
Fans wait.
Punchline 1: If timing were a sniper, it would always be aiming at the calendar—kickoff on a new date again.
Punchline 2: And if this match moves, at least the jokes will be well-timed, even with a delayed kickoff.
