Dubai, UAE – The first round of the 2026 World Cup group stage concluded with mixed results for the eight participating Arab teams. No Arab team secured a victory, leaving their hopes of a first win postponed until the upcoming rounds. However, their chances of advancing to the next stage remain alive.
Encouraging draws
The opening round witnessed the brilliance of four Arab teams who succeeded in snatching valuable points, giving them a great morale boost at the beginning of the journey.
The Saudi national team came close to achieving a resounding upset after taking the lead against Uruguay, before the match ended in a draw (1-1), earning a valuable point in Group H.
The Qatari national team made history by securing their first-ever point in a World Cup appearance after a 1-1 draw with Switzerland. They also finished second in Group B.
The Moroccan national team: delivered a high-level tactical performance against Brazil, forcing a draw (1-1), thus putting itself in a good position within Group C.
The Egyptian national team continued its Arab brilliance with a positive draw (1-1) against Belgium, securing its place in second place in Group Seven.
Heavy losses and challenges ahead
In contrast, the round was tough for four other teams who faced formidable opponents:
The Iraqi national team suffered a loss against Norway (4-1), while the Tunisian national team suffered a heavy defeat against Sweden (5-1).
In the tenth group, the Algerian national team lost to Argentina 3-0. While the Jordanian team collided with the realism of Austria in its first World Cup appearance, losing by a score of (3-1). Despite this, Ali Alwan succeeded in scoring the first historic goal for “Al-Nashama” in the World Cup.
Overall findings and future prospects
Despite the lack of victories, all the Arab teams managed to score against their opponents except for Algeria, a positive attacking indicator. At the end of the round, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Morocco, and Egypt occupy the provisional qualification spots (second place). Meanwhile, the pressure is on Iraq, Tunisia, Algeria, and Jordan to achieve positive results in the next two rounds to maintain their hopes of advancing.
Round 2 schedule (Dubai time):
Qatar vs. Canada: June 19 (02:00)
Morocco vs Scotland: June 20 (02:00)
Tunisia vs Japan: June 21 (08:00)
Saudi Arabia vs. Spain: June 21 (20:00)
Egypt vs. New Zealand: June 22 (05:00)
Iraq vs. France: June 23 (01:00)
Algeria vs. Jordan: June 23 (07:00)
All eyes remain on these crucial matches. The Arab teams are striving to overcome their initial setbacks and write new chapters of brilliance in this global football extravaganza.
