Source: Alamy Stock Photo

Saudi Arabia moves closer to the World Cup with a valuable win over Indonesia

The Saudi national football team took a major step toward qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup after securing a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Indonesia in Jeddah, while the clash between Oman and Qatar ended in a goalless draw in Doha. Both matches were part of the opening round of the fourth stage of the Asian qualifiers, in Groups A and B respectively.

Saleh Abu Al-Shamat (17’) and Firas Al-Buraikan (34’ pen, 62’) scored for Saudi Arabia, who are hosting their group matches at Al-Inma Stadium in Jeddah, while Indonesia’s captain Kevin Diks netted both goals for his team from the spot (11’ and 88’).

Backed by over 40,000 passionate fans, the “Green Falcons” now aim to secure their seventh World Cup qualification in history—and their third in a row—when they face Iraq in the third and final round next Tuesday. Indonesia, meanwhile, will take on the “Lions of Mesopotamia” on Saturday in the second round.

The group winner will qualify directly for the World Cup, while the runner-up will play a two-legged playoff against the second-placed team from Group B, also hosted in Jeddah and featuring Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Indonesia, on November 13 and 18, for a place in the intercontinental playoff.

Match highlights

The visitors stunned the home crowd early when their captain, Borussia Mönchengladbach defender Kevin Diks, converted a penalty in the 11th minute. The spot kick was awarded by Kuwaiti referee Ahmed Al-Ali after a VAR review showed that Hassan Tambakti handled the ball following a Jay Idzes header (6’).

Saudi Arabia responded swiftly, with French coach Hervé Renard’s men pushing forward in search of an equalizer. Their persistence paid off when debutant Saleh Abu Al-Shamat fired a brilliant left-footed strike from outside the box past Dallas FC goalkeeper Martin Paes (17’).

Abu Al-Shamat, making his first official international appearance for the “Green Falcons,” continued to impress—first rattling the crossbar with a powerful long-range effort (30’), then delivering a precise cross to Al-Buraikan, who was brought down by fullback Yakob Sayuri (31’). Following another VAR review, referee Al-Ali awarded a penalty that Al-Buraikan calmly slotted into the bottom corner with his left foot (36’).

Al-Buraikan struck again to make it 3-1, pouncing on a rebound after Paes failed to hold a long-range effort from Musab Al-Juwair (62’).

Indonesia pulled one back late through another Diks penalty (88’), after VAR confirmed a handball by Boushal (86’).

Indonesia, coached by Dutch legend Patrick Kluivert and currently ranked 119th in the world, remain the only team in Asia to have started their qualifying journey from the first round and made it this far. Their only previous World Cup appearance dates back to 1938, when they competed under the name Dutch East Indies.

Saudi Arabia, on the other hand, are chasing a seventh appearance on the world stage.