KSAsportz report
JEDDAH — All eyes will be on King Abdullah Sports City on Tuesday night as Saudi Arabia and Iraq collide in a high-stakes, winner-takes-all clash in the AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to 26 Playoffs Group B. This pivotal match not only represents a fierce rivalry but also has major implications for FIFA World Cup 2026 qualification, with the victor securing a spot at the global finals. The losing side will have to navigate a playoff against the Group A runners-up.
Saudi Arabia Eyeing Seventh World Cup Berth
Saudi Arabia enters the matchup with significant momentum after narrowly defeating Indonesia 3-2 in their group opener. The team, managed by Hervé Renard, requires only a draw to confirm their place at the World Cup, bolstered by a superior goal difference over Iraq, who managed a slim 1-0 victory against Indonesia. However, the Green Falcons will be without key midfielder Mohammed Kanno, who received a late red card in the previous match.
Renard is expected to lean on young forward Saleh Al Shamat, whose impressive equalizer against Indonesia marked his fourth international appearance. In-form striker Feras Al Brikan, who netted twice in Jeddah last week, will lead the attack. However, Renard expressed concerns about defensive lapses—Indonesia had 17 attempts, 10 of which were on target in the last game.
“What we did before is nothing now,” Renard stated in his pre-match press conference. “If we don’t achieve our goal tomorrow, no one will remember Indonesia or Bahrain. The most important is this game. I’m lucky to have players with experience like Saleh Al Shehri and captain Salem Al Dawsari, and now Hassan Al Tambakti is gaining valuable experience. I tell them always to stay focused — that’s the key for tomorrow.”
Iraq Confident Despite Pressure Gap
Iraq, under the leadership of Australian coach Graham Arnold, must secure a victory to qualify directly. The team has scored in 81% of their last 16 qualifying matches, but faces uncertainty surrounding their top scorer Aymen Hussein, who missed the previous match against Indonesia.
Arnold will be without suspended defender Zaid Tahseen but remains optimistic ahead of the crucial encounter. “It’s a very special game tomorrow night,” Arnold remarked. “The pressure is more on Saudi. They have two ways to qualify — draw or win — but we have only one way, and that’s to win. We’re going for it.
“Saudi will have 90 percent of the fans, plus media and FIFA pressure. For us, it’s simple — we have nothing to lose.”
The Stakes
Saudi Arabia, with six World Cup appearances under their belt, aims for their seventh qualification, while Iraq, last seen at the World Cup in 1986, is striving to end a four-decade absence from the tournament.
As the stadium buzzes with excitement, more than 60,000 fans are expected to fill the sold-out King Abdullah Sports City Stadium, creating an electric atmosphere for what promises to be a dramatic showcase of Asian football.