Saudi Arabia had to settle for a pale 0-0 against Australia on Thursday in Melbourne in qualifying for the 2026 World Cup. It was Hervé Renard’s first match since his return to the helm of the “Green Falcons” .
Full stop, that’s all. Saudi Arabia drew (0-0) against Australia this Thursday in Melbourne in qualifying for the 2026 World Cup, on the occasion of Hervé Renard’s first match since his return to the helm of the “Green Falcons” at the end october. The Frenchman, who had already coached the Saudi selection between 2019 and 2023, succeeded three weeks ago the Italian Roberto Mancini, relieved of his duties after the home defeat against Japan (2-0).
A qualification in danger
To try to qualify for the next World Cup, the Saudi federation decided to recall Renard, who left the French women’s team at the end of the Paris Olympic Games. In Group C, Australia (2nd) and Saudi Arabia (3rd) both have six points, four less than Japan, who can further widen the gap in their match against Indonesia in Jakarta Friday. Only the first two in the group will be guaranteed direct qualification for the World Cup.
In Melbourne, the Saudis thought they would win the three points on the wire but a goal from Sultan Al-Ghannam was canceled for an offside position by one of his teammates (90+3). In the other matches of the day on the program in the Asia zone, South Korea notably won 3-1 against Kuwait with the 50th national goal of its star and captain Heung-Min Son.
