Saudi Arabia Knocked Out of FIFA World Cup 2026

Saudi Arabia’s FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign came to an end after playing out a goalless draw against Cape Verde, a result that eliminated the Green Falcons from the tournament while sending Cape Verde into the Round of 32 alongside Spain from Group H.

Needing a victory to keep their qualification hopes alive, Saudi Arabia delivered a disciplined performance but failed to find the decisive goal. The result marked a noticeable improvement under newly appointed head coach Georgios Donis, who took charge of the team just a month ago after replacing Hervé Renard.

Goalkeeper Mohammed Al Owais played a key role by producing an important late save to keep Cape Verde from scoring, but Saudi Arabia struggled to convert its own chances throughout the match.

The Green Falcons concluded the group stage with two points after drawing 1-1 with Uruguay, losing 4-0 to Spain, and finishing with a scoreless draw against Cape Verde. Meanwhile, Cape Verde celebrated a historic achievement by reaching the knockout stage in its first-ever FIFA World Cup appearance.

Saudi Arabia has now exited the World Cup at the group stage in every tournament except its memorable debut in 1994, when it reached the Round of 16 in the United States.