Austin, USA – The Saudi national team achieved a well-deserved victory over their Puerto Rican counterparts with three goals to nil, in the friendly match that brought them together as part of the “Green” team’s preparations for the 2026 World Cup.
The match was part of the Saudi national team’s training camp in Austin, USA, where they played their second friendly after facing Ecuador, as part of the final preparations for the World Cup scheduled to be held in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Sultan Mandash opened the scoring for Saudi Arabia in first-half stoppage time, before Abdullah Al-Hamdan doubled the lead in the 51st minute. Salem Al-Dawsari completed the scoring with a third goal in the 88th minute.
The match saw several changes in the Saudi national team’s lineup, after the Greek coach, Giorgos Donis, gave the opportunity to a number of players who did not participate as a starter in the previous friendly match.
The match was halted early, in the 21st minute, due to warnings of a thunderstorm hitting the area surrounding the stadium. This prompted the referee to stop the game and send the players to the dressing rooms for their safety.
The match was suspended for over an hour and a half before authorities allowed it to resume after weather conditions improved. The two teams then returned to the pitch, and the Saudi team continued their dominance with a 3-0 victory.
The Saudi national team continues its preparations to participate in the 2026 World Cup, amid ambitions to make a strong appearance during the first edition of the tournament, which will witness the participation of 48 teams.
