The highly anticipated schedule for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, has been released, outlining Saudi Arabia's path in the tournament. Following the draw in Washington D.C., Saudi Arabia finds itself in Group H, setting the stage for compelling matches against Spain, Uruguay, and Cape Verde.
Saudi Arabia's World Cup journey begins on June 15 at 6:00 PM ET against Uruguay at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. The Green Falcons will then face Spain on June 21 at 12:00 PM ET at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. The group stage concludes with a match against Cape Verde on June 26 at 8:00 PM ET at NRG Stadium in Houston.
The draw places Saudi Arabia in a challenging group, but the team is optimistic. Coach Herve Renard acknowledged the difficulty of the group, highlighting Spain as the top-ranked team in the world and Uruguay as a historically strong side. He also noted that Cape Verde would be eager to make a statement in their World Cup debut.
The 2026 World Cup marks a historic expansion, featuring 48 teams for the first time. The tournament will take place from June 11 to July 19, 2026, across 16 host cities in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The final is scheduled for July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New York-New Jersey.
Saudi Arabia secured its spot in the tournament through AFC qualification. This will be their seventh appearance at the World Cup. The Saudi team is undergoing a transformation, with fresh talent emerging from the Roshn Saudi League.
The venues and kick-off times have been carefully considered by FIFA, taking into account factors such as recovery time, climate, and travel distances. This is particularly important given concerns about extreme heat, which have affected previous tournaments.
While Saudi Arabia prepares for the 2026 World Cup, the nation is also looking ahead to 2034, having been selected to host the FIFA World Cup 2034. The Saudi Arabian Football Federation submitted its official letter of intent to bid for the 2034 FIFA World Cup on October 9, 2023. The selection was ratified by the FIFA Congress on December 11, 2024.
