Last night, the Saudi Arabian national team officially secured a spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The team played out a goalless draw (0:0) against Iraq in Jeddah, which was enough to guarantee their qualification for the tournament.
To celebrate this achievement, the Saudi Arabian Football Federation has decided to reward the players generously. Each member of the national team will receive a €1.2 million bonus — one of the largest rewards ever given in Asian football.
In recent years, Saudi Arabia has established itself as one of the dominant forces in Asian football. Their qualification for the World Cup is seen as the result of consistent performance and a well-structured development strategy.
With this result, Saudi Arabia became one of eight Asian teams to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
Aside from Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Jordan, Iran, and Qatar have also booked their tickets to the tournament. Meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates and Iraq will compete in the playoff stage, where they’ll have one final chance to earn a spot in next year’s World Cup.
This achievement highlights the Kingdom’s growing investment and commitment to sports development. The Saudi national team will now begin its preparation for the 2026 World Cup, aiming to deliver strong performances on the global stage.
