RIYADH: As the clock ticked down on Saudi Arabia’s 0-0 draw with Cabo Verde, and on their 2026 World Cup campaign, the online backlash was in full swing.
A toothless display against the first-time participants meant the national team would be packing and heading home at the end of the tournament’s group stage for the third time in a row, following similar exits in 2018 in Russia and 2022 in Qatar.
This summer marked the Kingdom’s seventh World Cup appearance. Apart from its first, in 1994, also in the US, Saudi Arabia has failed to advance to the knockout stage every time.
The fallout and anger among supporters and media figures are set to be greater this time for many reasons, including heightened expectations, the growing profile of Saudi football globally, and what many see as a chronic failure to learn from past mistakes.
Abdulelah Al-Amri #4 and Ali Lajami #3 of Saudi Arabia react after the 0-0 draw during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group H match between Cabo Verde and Saudi Arabia at Houston Stadium on June 26, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Getty Images via AFP)
