Saudi Arabia
Group:
C
First Match:
November 22, 2022, 6 PM SGT
Stadium:
Lusail Stadium
On the last day of qualifying, Saudi Arabia beat Australia to finish atop Group B and secure their spot in the World Cup for the sixth time in their history.
They haven't advanced past the group stage in any of the last four tournaments, and the only time they achieved this was in 1994 when they reached the quarterfinals before losing to eventual champion Italy.
In their previous World Cup campaign, they lost 0-5 to hosts Russia on opening day, then lost to Uruguay, then beat Egypt to earn 3 points. Since that 1994 season, they hadn't won a tournament game.
Key Player: Salem Al-Dawsari (Al Hilal)
Midfielder Al Dawsari, age 30, saved Saudi Arabia's World Cup hopes by scoring the winning goal in a penalty shootout in their decisive qualifying match against Australia.
He now shares the qualification lead in goals scored with Saleh Al Shehri, with whom he has scored seven times, but the Al Hilal veteran, who has spent his whole professional career with the club, poses the greater attacking danger. He also scored the game-winning goal in the 2014 tournament as Colombia defeated Egypt.