Saudi Arabia World Cup 2018 squad list and team guide

Saudi Arabia are few people's dark horses but their opening match against the hosts should prove instructive - Getty Images Europe
Saudi Arabia are few people's dark horses but their opening match against the hosts should prove instructive - Getty Images Europe

Saudi Arabia's 2018 World Cup squad is thoroughly analysed below. This is your guide to everything you need to know about the players who will be representing their country at the tournament, when their games are taking place, who is in charge of the team, the key men to watch and how they're likely to fare in Russia.

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Saudi Arabia's World Cup preliminary squad - the 23 names

23-man final squad

Goalkeepers: Mohammed Al Owais (Al Ahli), Yasser Al Mosailem (Al Ahli), Abdullah Al Mayouf (Al Hilal) 

Defenders: Mansoor Al Harbi (Al Ahli), Yasser Al Shahrani (Al Hilal) Mohammed Al Breik (Al Hilal), Motaz Hawsawi (Al Ahli), Osama Hawsawi (Al Hilal), Omar Hawsawi (Al Nassr), Ali Al Bulaihi (Al Hilal) 

Midfielders: Abdullah Al Khaibari (Al Shabab), Abdulmalek Al Khaibri (Al Hilal), Abdullah Otayf (Al Hilal), Taiseer Al Jassim (Al Ahli), Houssain Al Mogahwi (Al Ahli), Salman Al Faraj, Mohamed Kanno (both Al Hilal), Hattan Bahebri (Al Shabab), Salem Al Dawsari (Al Hilal), Yahya Al Shehri (Al Nassr), Fahad Al Muwallad (Al Ittihad) 

Forwards: Mohammad Al Sahlawi (Al Nassr), Muhannad Assiri (Al Ahli)

Saudi Arabia's World Cup 2018 fixtures

Saudi Arabia's World Cup record

World Cup record: Saudi Arabia
World Cup record: Saudi Arabia

The kits

See where Saudi Arabia's shirts ends up in our ranking of all 64 World Cup shirts below:

World Cup kits ranked
World Cup kits ranked

What odds are Saudi Arabia to win the World Cup?

1000/1

Who's the coach?

Juan Antonio Pizzi.

Former Spain striker who played for Bobby Robson at Barcelona, Pizzi resigned as Chile manager and last November became the third Saudi manager in three months.

Saudi Arabia  - Credit: Getty Images 
Saudi Arabia will play in their first World Cup since 2006 Credit: Getty Images

Who's the star?

They’re not the lowest ranked team here for nothing - but Mohammad Al-Sahlawi scored eight in qualification against East Timor.

Mohammad Al-Sahlawi  - Credit: Getty Images 
Mohammad Al-Sahlawi trained with Manchester United earlier this year Credit: Getty Images

Best thing about them

Technically adept players with plenty of swazz, a lovely kit and in ‘the Green Falcons’, the best nickname.

Worst thing about them

Ponderous tempo and lack of physical stature make them as vulnerable as tethered goats for Uruguay’s ruthless predators.

Saudi Arabia - Credit: Getty Images 
Saudi Arabia lost to Italy in a pre-World Cup friendly in May Credit: Getty Images

You may recognise…

Yaya Al-Shehri is a nippy, Bercow-sized left winger who could nutmeg opponents with his body as well as the ball.

Cameramen will be picking out…

As is the intrusive way these days, ostentatiously pious goal celebrations - in the remote possibility they score, of course.

Fans' favourite chant

Oh oh, oh oh, oh ya Saudi!

On-field prediction

Haven’t won a match in three World Cups since 1994 and that won’t change here.

Off-field prediction

Paeans of praise for the Crown Prince and an epidemic of tinnitus from insufferable inflatable cheering sticks.

Full 2018 World Cup squad lists and guides | Star to watch, odds, fans' chants and more
Full 2018 World Cup squad lists and guides | Star to watch, odds, fans' chants and more
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