The Athletic has live coverage of the latest 2026 FIFA Men's World Cup news.
As part of our Language of Soccer World Cup series, The Athletic is speaking to supporters of all 48 nations competing at the 2026 edition to capture their unique football culture, distilled into a single phrase. You can read the articles in one place here.
Ya akhder, Allah ma'ek — Oh Green, Allah is with you
Renowned for an abundance of natural oil, Saudi Arabia is a nation that plays a major part in fuelling the global economy.
Sport has been a significant — and controversial — component of its increased international standing. There has been heavy investment, ranging from the Public Investment Fund's takeover of Premier League team Newcastle United to its LIV Golf operation, Formula One grands prix, high-profile boxing bouts and plenty besides.
That has brought with it accusations of “sportswashingâ€, something the country's sports minister has previously described as “very shallowâ€. Mohammed bin Salman, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, said in 2023 he “doesn't care†about such claims.
Whatever the motivation, the beautiful game is central to driving change in a country that will host the World Cup in 2034.
The Saudi team, nicknamed The Green Falcons, will arrive in North America this summer 32 years after making their World Cup debut in the United States.
And although many fans in the country associate first with one of the clubs in the increasingly popular Saudi Pro League, excitement is building for the wider stage. Attention is turning towards the national team's attempt to build on the last World Cup, when they delivered one of the all-time great upsets by defeating Argentina.
Despite that iconic result in 2022, Saudi Arabia did not get out of their group at the tournament in Qatar, and have not made it to the knockout stages of a World Cup since that debut appearance (when they reached the last 16).
Saudi Arabia fans celebrate their team's shock victory against Argentina at the 2022 World Cup (Odd Andersen/AFP via Getty Images)
For Riyadh-based supporter Galaway Aladdani, that victory — only the fourth win across the six World Cups they have competed in — was a turning point. Humbling Lionel Messi and the eventual world champions, even in a group match, propelled the Falcons back into being a symbol of pride for Saudis.
“For Saudis, football is emotional fuel,†says the 46-year-old. “It is happiness.
“Unfortunately, fans tend to support their local clubs more than the national side. That's largely due to the national team's performances over the past 15 years on the global stage.
“Their poor results have shifted passion towards club football, especially with the arrival of global stars who deliver a much higher level of performance.
“There's also been a lack of strong marketing and media support for the national team, which has affected fan engagement. You can see it clearly — club loyalty and even tribalism are stronger than national-team support. Kids wear club shirts more than national-team shirts.
“Then there's also a problem with the excessive club rivalry, which has created a gap when it comes to backing the national team. Only a smaller segment of fans still have that strong sense of belonging and passion for the national side.
“But I was at the Argentina match at the World Cup in Qatar. It was historic — but also exceptional. The whole world, including us, was shocked by the Saudi team's performance.
“After beating a team that hadn't lost for three years, expectations and excitement skyrocketed. That match created a real shockwave in the sporting scene.â€
It certainly tapped into an already deeply embedded love for football in the kingdom, according to Manar Al-Ghamdi, 38, a university lecturer in statistics from Riyadh.
Her household is immersed in that club rivalry Aladdani describes. “I have been a fan for many years,†she says. “Football is part of my daily life. I watch matches constantly and follow all the football programmes.
“In my wider family, I am the only woman who follows football this closely, although my whole family watches the game.
“My father was obsessed with football. From him, we inherited our support for Al Ittihad. I started following football when I was in middle school, and I have supported Al Ittihad ever since.
“My husband supports Al Hilal and is very passionate about them, so when Al Hilal and Al Ittihad play each other, we do not agree on anything.
“But like my father, I remain loyal to Al Ittihad.â€
Female fans have become an increasing presence at domestic matches in Saudi Arabia (Fayez Nureldine/AFP via Getty Images)
That tribalism is put aside when the Green Falcons play, she says, recalling how that 2-1 win in the Group C opener four years ago generated an outpouring of excitement across the country.
“We went out to watch in public squares and parks,†she says. “The excitement became even bigger after that victory.
“Everyone was chanting. People were singing, beating drums, waving green flags and celebrating together. It felt like the whole country was united.â€
Al-Ghamdi recalls how the following day was made an official holiday for workers across the kingdom, making it an even more memorable occasion.
“The culture of supporting the Saudi national team is special,†she says. “Whenever Saudi Arabia play, every outdoor venue is full, cafes are crowded, restaurants are packed and there is a carnival atmosphere.
“Even at work, employers often give people time to watch matches or bring in large screens so staff can follow the games. My sister works at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and they make arrangements there too.
“In hospitals and pharmacies, where people cannot leave work, they still set up screens in staff areas.
“Everyone watches — even my grandmother follows the team. Football brings together every generation.â€
Putting football's compelling social power aside, Saudi fans are pragmatic about their side's chances. The national football federation made a late change last month, parting ways with head coach Herve Renard only 59 days before their first World Cup game against Uruguay on June 15.
Greek manager Georgios Donis, who has coached in the Saudi Pro League and at AEK Athens in his homeland, has taken charge.
“Despite the weaknesses of the national team, I became more optimistic after the coaching change,†says Al-Ghamdi. “We do not ask to win the World Cup. We only ask for spirit, commitment and performances that make the people proud.â€
There is another issue, according to Aladdani, which is tempering expectations. The Pro League's ability to attract star names from abroad — such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Neymar — can adversely affect Saudi talent.
“We don't really expect the national team to reach the advanced stages of the World Cup,†he says. “The team in the 1980s was actually stronger than today, mainly because of the system. Back then, clubs were only allowed two or three foreign players, and the rest were Saudi.
“Today, local players struggle to find opportunities. With more than eight foreign players in some teams — at a level that's difficult to match — Saudi players often don't get enough playing time.
“Take Al Hilal, for example: you'll only find two or three standout local players in the squad. That makes it very hard for new talent to emerge.â€
This does not mean pride will not swell as the Green Falcons kick off their Group H campaign at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.
Arafan Al-Ghamdi (no relation to Manar) will be glued to the television at his home in Jeddah. The retired national guard sports administrator may not be travelling to the U.S. but he will be watching closely.
“It is a long journey and at my age that is difficult,†says the 62-year-old. “But our hearts will be with the team.
“We do not ask for miracles. We only want a good level of performance, because we know the team is not in its best condition.
“I still remember the 1994 World Cup, when Saudi Arabia produced the best performances in our history.â€
Like the rest, he believes the Pro League's strength has impacted the national team. “We are clearly number one in Asia and the Arab world in terms of ambition and investment,†he says. “Yet many Saudi players struggle to compete with the imported level. Look at the Morocco national football team. Our league may be stronger financially, but their national team is stronger because many of their players compete at elite European clubs.â€
He is clear that investment in the game is not a bad thing, though. With the World Cup coming in eight years, it is important to ensure standards keep rising in all aspects.
“Some outsiders think Saudi Arabia is only spending lavishly on players,†he says. “That is not true. Money has also gone into sports medicine, professional management, facilities and sports cities. All of this is part of preparation for hosting the World Cup.â€
World football's governing body FIFA claimed in 2024 that there is “good potential†for the World Cup to act as a “catalyst†for reforms within Saudi Arabia, saying it will “contribute to positive human rights outcomesâ€. Amnesty International described FIFA's observations as “an astonishing whitewash†of the country's human rights record.
For Manar, one of the positives of football's prevalence in Saudi Arabia is its capacity to act as a vehicle for equality.
“The passion for football today, across a broad segment of the population, reflects the profound transformation in Saudi culture as a whole,†she says. “For instance, there was once (in the past before the transformation starting point) a separation between young men and women; over time, however, girls began to be influenced by the enthusiasm and chants by young cheering men in the stadiums.
“Likewise, going out used to be limited — especially for girls — but now everyone goes out, cafes are full, and a new wave has taken shape.â€
Yasser Halawani believes Saudi fan culture reached a new level at the last World Cup. “Even supporters from other countries were impressed by the way Saudis backed the team,†the Jeddah-based supporter says. “Our passion, organisation and football culture surprised many people.
“In the Gulf region, Saudi Arabia is No 1 for fan culture and football passion.â€
Expect plenty of pride, passion and noise from Saudi fans in public squares watching live games and in stadiums across the U.S.
Manar's favourite Falcon songs reflect devotion to the team, patriotism and the wider spiritual element of Saudi culture.
“Some chants stay in my memory forever,†she says. “Oh Green, Allah is with you,†and “Saudi Arabia, play — we are behind youâ€.
She adds: “Another one I always love is: ‘Play like your country deserves — it is an honour'.
“Sometimes chants are spontaneous. There was a famous chant about Messi after Argentina that happened naturally in the moment.
“Rivalry is stronger between clubs than with the national team, but with the national team, it is more about joy and unity.â€
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