After 12 years in the wilderness, Saudi Arabia returned to the World Cup their first appearance since 2006. Juan Antonio Pizzi was the man tasked with guiding them back.
| Team | MP | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 9 |
| 2 |
|
3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 6 |
| 3 |
|
3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 7 | -5 | 3 |
| 4 |
|
3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 6 | -4 | 0 |
Saudi Arabia found moments of promise but ultimately fell short of the consistency needed to progress beyond the group stage. Goals proved hard to come by, with just 2 in 3 matches, and their lack of firepower ultimately told.
Saudi Arabia endured a difficult group stage, unable to advance despite moments of resistance. Their campaign featured a heavy 0-5 defeat to Russia, a narrow 0-1 loss to Uruguay, and a hard-fought 2-1 win against Egypt. Despite moments of quality, it was not enough to advance, and Saudi Arabia's campaign ended at the first round.
1won2lost
2scored7conceded
0–5 vs Russia failed to score in 2 of 3 matches.
Salman Al-Faraj led Saudi Arabia's attack with 1 goal at the 2018 World Cup. Shared the top-scorer honours with Al-Dawsari, both with 1.
The tactical mind behind Saudi Arabia's 2018 campaign. A Spanish at the helm leading Saudi Arabia at his first World Cup.
Saudi Arabia employed an aggressive playing style, often catching opponents off guard with swift counterattacks. Despite a relatively small squad size, Juan Antonio Pizzi's team demonstrated impressive depth and strategy.
