Key Takeaways:
- Each Saudi Arabia player has been awarded a bonus of $1.33 million after booking a place at the 2026 World Cup
- The team topped its group in the fourth round of Asian qualifiers, finishing level on points and goal difference with Iraq but with more goals scored
- This will mark Saudi Arabia’s seventh appearance at a FIFA World Cup, having previously competed in 1994, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2018, and 2022
Qualification and Government Rewards
Saudi Arabia’s national football team has officially qualified for the 2026 World Cup, with each of the 26 players involved in October’s decisive qualifying matches set to receive a $1.33 million (5 million Saudi riyal) bonus, as reported by asharqbusiness.com. The Saudi government had pledged generous rewards for achieving a third consecutive World Cup qualification and has fulfilled this promise after the team’s recent success.
Cada jugador de la selección de Arabia Saudita 🇸🇦 fue premiado con más de U$S 1 millón 💰 por lograr la clasificación a la Copa del Mundo 2026. Lo decidió Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal, ministro de Deportes del país. Lo informa Asharq Business. pic.twitter.com/UGA4KJXTw3
— VSports Team (@VSportsTM) October 15, 2025
Asian Qualifiers Campaign
Saudi Arabia emerged as group winners in the fourth phase of the Asian qualifiers. The team achieved a 3:2 victory over Indonesia and played out a goalless draw against Iraq. Both Saudi Arabia and Iraq concluded the round with 4 points and identical goal differences of +1. However, Saudi Arabia finished first owing to a higher number of goals scored, which secured their automatic berth in the next World Cup.
| Team | Points | Goal Difference | Goals Scored |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saudi Arabia | 4 | +1 | 3 |
| Iraq | 4 | +1 | 2 |
World Cup History and Notable Achievements
The 2026 edition will be Saudi Arabia’s seventh appearance on football’s biggest stage. Their World Cup participation history includes tournaments in 1994, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2018, and 2022. During the most recent tournament in Qatar, Saudi Arabia made international headlines by defeating eventual champions Argentina 2:1 in a memorable opening match of the group stage.
