Washington, D.C. – The second round of the 23rd edition of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada, concluded amidst fierce competition that lasted until the final whistle.
This round featured eight Arab teams (Egypt, Qatar, Morocco, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Jordan, and Algeria). Their performances varied considerably, ranging from impressive displays to early and disappointing exits.
Arab leadership: Salah and Sabari light the way
The Egyptian national team emerged as one of the strongest Arab contenders, topping Group G with 4 points after a well-deserved 3-1 victory over New Zealand. Captain Mohamed Salah also shone, earning the Man of the Match award with a rating of 8.7, thus confirming his leadership of the Pharaohs.
Meanwhile, the Moroccan national team took a significant step towards the next round by leading Group C, also with 4 points. This was thanks to an early goal from their star player, Ismail Sabari, against Scotland. With this victory, the “Atlas Lions” reaffirmed their continued global prowess.
Disappointments and early departure
On the other hand, the tournament proved harsh for some Arab teams. Tunisia and Jordan were officially eliminated.
The Tunisian national team suffered a heavy defeat against Japan (0-4), leaving them at the bottom of their group with zero points. Jordan joined them in elimination after losing to Algeria in an all-Arab encounter that ended (2-1) in favor of the “Greens,” following their initial loss to Austria.
Mixed results for the other teams
Qatari football endured a difficult night as the “Gulf giant” suffered a historic 6-0 defeat against Canada. As a result, their position in Group B remains precarious with just one point.
Similarly, the Saudi Arabian national team suffered a heavy 4-0 loss to Spain, leaving them with only one point in Group H. Meanwhile, the Iraqi national team was outclassed by the formidable French “Les Bleus,” losing 3-0 despite the brilliance of Kylian Mbappé. This leaves them without any points in Group I.
Who is closest to qualifying?
The statistics confirm that Egypt and Morocco are the most likely Arab teams to advance to the next round, thanks to their points tally and positive goal difference.
Conversely, Qatar and Saudi Arabia face significant challenges in overcoming their negative goal differences. Meanwhile, the Algerian national team, having secured a morale-boosting victory against Jordan, awaits its upcoming matches to revive its hopes in the Group 10 standings.
The excitement continues at the World Cup, and the hopes of Arab fans remain pinned on the performances of the Egyptian and Moroccan players. A decisive round of matches is expected, which could reshape the qualification map for the other teams still clinging to slim chances of advancing to the next round.
