Saudi Arabia is being very consistent in qualifying for the world cup and is again making its 6th appearance in the FIFA world cup since 1994. The country will wish to put its front foot in the tournament that too when is taking place in the middle east. They have qualified for 6 out of 8 tournaments, they played qualifier matches for. Although they could not make it out of group stages and this time Group C in which they are is a hard nut to crack. If you are a football enthusiast and a Saudi Arabia team fan, here’s the complete Saudi Arabia Guide for the FIFA world cup.
Best Saudi Arabia Guide for FIFA World Cup: Navigate to Know Everything about your Team
The FIFA football world cup is no less than a blessing for a football lover, and when it has come to the door next to you, don’t miss it. FIFA world cup 2022 is taking place in Qatar this year and 32 teams are coming to show their expertise. Not to mention that the Saudi Arabia team is one of the best teams in Asia playing in the tournament including Iran, South Korea, Japan, and Australia. Although, Saudi Arabia dominated the World Cup Qualifying campaign, going undefeated in their group and winning seven of ten games. But it will be a crucial journey for Saudi Arabia in Qatar and to handle the pressure and expectation, your team needs your love and support of yours. Get yourself ready to stand by your team and follow this dedicated Saudi Arabia guide for the FIFA world cup.
Team Groups
The World Cup opens up with the group-stage play on 20th November 2022. The field of 32 nations is split up into eight groups of four teams from A to H. Saudi Arabia Team falls in Group C with Argentina, Mexico, and Poland. This group is not an easy fort to win over. Although the Saudi team defeated Australia and Japan in the Asian qualifying group which featured Japan, Australia, Oman, China, and Vietnam, and topped the group. The dates for the world cup 2022 start from November 20th, 2022 to December 18th,2022 when Saudi Arabia Team will play for the nation and fans.
Saudi Arabia Team
Let’s talk about your favorite team in the world cup. Saudi Arabia team qualified for their first FIFA World Cup in the year 1994 and became the Saudi Arabia football team playing in the FIFA world cup this is their 6th time in the tournament. The best performance given by this team in the world cup was in the year 1994 when they reached the round of 16. Coach Harve Ranard announced a provisional team of 32 players on October 12th before the final announcement of the team being done on November 13th, 2022. Saudi Arabia's team is well prepared and ready to hit the football ground on their front foot. Let me introduce you to your team, Saudi Arabia, in the world cup 2022:
Goal Keepers: Mohammed Al-Owais (Al-Hilal), Fawaz Al-Qarni (Al-Shabab), Mohammed Al-Rubaie (Al-Ahli), Nawaf Al-Aqidi (Al-Nassr)
Defenders: Yasser Al-Shahrani (Al-Hilal), Mohammed Al-Breik (Al-Hilal), Ali Al-Bulaihi (Al-Hilal), Sultan Al-Ghanam (Al-Nassr), Saud Abdulhamid (Al-Hilal), Abdulelah Al-Amri (Al-Nassr), Hassan Tambakti (Al-Shabab), Abdullah Madu (Al-Nassr), Ahmed Bamsaud (Al-Ittihad)
Mid Fielders: Fahad Al-Muwallad (Al-Shabab), Salman Al-Faraj (Al-Hilal), Salem Al-Dawsari (Al-Hilal), Nawaf Al-Abed (Al-Shabab), Abdullah Otayf (Al-Hilal), Hattan Bahebri (Al-Shabab), Mohamed Kanno (Al-Hilal), Abdullah Al-Malki (Al-Hilal), Sami Al-Najei (Al-Nassr), Ali Al-Hassan (Al-Nassr), Nasser Al-Dawsari (Al-Hilal), Ayman Yahya (Al-Nassr), Abdulrahman Al-Aboud (Al-Ittihad), Riyadh Sharahili (Abha)
Forwards: Firas Al-Buraikan (Al-Fateh), Abdullah Al-Hamdan (Al-Hilal), Saleh Al-Shehri (Al-Hilal), Haitham Asiri (Al-Ahli), Abdullah Radif (Al-Taawoun)
Head Coach: Herve Renard (Manager of the team since 2019)
Assistant Coach: Laurent Bonadéi, Sofian Kheyari, Mohammed Ameen
Goalkeeper Coach: Philippe Sence
Technical Director: Romeo Jozak
Saudi Arabia Matches and Schedules
Saudi Arabia will play with Argentina to kick-start things for them in Group C. Then, they face off against Poland and end their group stage with Mexico.
| No. Of Match | Team | Date | Time (IST) | Stadium |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Argentina | 22/11/2022 | 3:30 PM | Lusail Iconic Stadium |
| 2 | Poland | 26/11/2022 | 6:30 PM | Education City Stadium |
| 3 | Mexico | 01/12/2022 | 12:30 AM | Lusail Stadium |
Stadiums and How to Reach?
Matches are being played in 8 different stadiums in Qatar and your team will be playing at 2 stadiums in the group stage and further in different stages of the game after qualifying in the group stage. The two stadiums in which they will start their games are Lusail Stadium and Education City Stadium. Let me tell you about these two glorifying places where teams will give each other the toughest fight to reach in next level of the tournament.
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Lusail Iconic Stadium
The Lusail Iconic Stadium, located in the beautiful city of Lusail, is Qatar's largest stadium. The stadium, which is owned by the Qatar Football Association, will host the final game of the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Use your Hayya Card to get free public transportation from November 10 to December 23, 2022. There are several ways to get here:
Metro
The nearest metro station on the red line is Lusail QNB Metro Station, which is about a 20-minute walk from the stadium.
Metro operating hours during the tournament:
Saturday through Thursday: 6 AM to 3 AM
Friday: 9 AM to 3 AM
Bus
The services will depart from designated Stadium Express Bus Hubs and drop off visitors at least a 30-minute walk from the stadium. The buses begin running 4 hours before the game and continue running for 1.5 hours after the game.
Taxi
Tourists who want to hire a private taxi should book ahead of time because the drop-off and pick-up area is at least a 20-minute walk from the stadium. The area will open four hours before the match and close 1.5 hours after it concludes.
Tram
Tourists can also take advantage of tram services to get to the Lusail Stadium and explore the nearby attractions.
Station: CF7Q+J5J Lusail Tram Station, Lusail, Qatar
Car Service
If you are driving your car, there is plenty of parking available near the stadium. Fans are advised to arrive early because parking lots fill up quickly. It will open 4 hours before the match and close 1.5 hours after.
Education City Stadium
Education City Stadium, located 7 kilometers northwest of central Doha, is ready to welcome visitors from all over the world to watch the live Qatar FIFA match.
Here are some options for getting to the stadium:
Metro
The Education City Metro Station is the closest metro station to Education City Stadium (Green line). It is approximately a 15-minute walk from the stadium.
Metro operating hours during the tournament:
Saturday through Thursday: 6 a.m. to 3 a.m.
Friday: 9 AM to 3 AM
Stadium Express Coaches
Fans can board buses at dedicated hubs located a 25-minute walk from the stadium.
Taxi
The taxi services will drop you off and pick you up at a spot nearby the stadium, from where one has to walk about 20 minutes to reach the stadium.
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Tickets for FIFA World Cup 2022
If you want to go to the world cup and experience the excitement, tickets for the Qatar World Cup 2022 can only be purchased directly from the FIFA website. You'll have to act quickly because the tickets are being released in three phases, the first of which has already passed. After the first three phases have concluded, FIFA will open the fourth phase for 'last-minute' ticket purchases.
Hayya Card for Football Fans
Applicants can use their FIFA.com user account to process their application for Hayya Fan Card. This card will act as a visa for international football fans and allow them to use all public transport till December 23rd,2022. And one thing is important to remember is that a fan having the ticket for the match is also required to have the Hayya Card else the ticket will be considered invalid. If a football fan is having a Hayya Card, is eligible to opt for the Saudi e-visa without paying any fee during the FIFA world cup. Don’t forget that a Saudi Fan also needs Hayya card to watch the match in stadiums.
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Live Stream Fan Zones in Saudi Arabia
With anticipation mounting around the world, particularly in the Middle East, as the region prepares to host football's biggest tournament for the first time, fan zones across the Gulf are nearing completion. For many, fan zones will be the only way for football fans who do not have tickets to the games to watch all of the action during the month-long tournament. FIFA Fan Festivals, which were first held in 2006, has allowed tens of millions of football fans to watch the action on big screens at previous World Cups (Russia in 2018, Brazil in 2014, South Africa in 2010, and Germany in 2006).
Football fans can watch Football World cup matches in Saudi Arabia and enjoy the thrill of these matches live in Riyadh Season 2022. The season will take place in 15 zones and one is dedicated to the biggest football tournament FIFA world cup. This fan zone has three big screens for live streaming of the world cup and concerts and esports tournaments. To make this place family-friendly, the organizers have taken care of the food and other facilities too. Mrsool Park’s fan festival area can accommodate 20,000 fans for every single match. This park features exhibitions on the late football star Diego Maradona and another exhibit on Newcastle Club. There is a Groves zone also, that comprises of entertainment shows, a dining area, and a dedicated area for World Cup fans. Undoubtedly, it is one of several football fan zones that will be the stages of the GCC during the month-long football tournament.
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Shuttle Service during Matches
The kingdom of Saudi Arabia will grant visas for FIFA ticket holders. During the World Cup, Saudi Arabian Airlines (SAUDIA) plans to launch shuttle flights to Doha from multiple Saudi cities. The announcement followed the signing of an agreement between SAUDIA and Qatar Airways to provide easy and convenient travel services to the World Cup for soccer fans from Saudi Arabia and other countries. During the world cup, the airline said it would operate match-day shuttles from Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam to the Qatari capital to allow fans to watch their favorite matches. And for this Qatar Airways has tied up with Fly Dubai, Kuwait Airways, Oman Air, and Saudi Airlines for the launch of the match-day shuttle. Take the flight as it takes only an hour and a half to reach Saudi. Not only this Saudi Arabia and Qatar have expanded the number of flights so that a fan cannot miss a single excitement.
Travel Tips for the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar
Here are some of the best FIFA World Cup 2022 travel tips for all guests:
- Guests with a Hayya Card can use public transportation for free from November 10 to December 23.
- Those taking cabs should plan ahead of time because they will have to walk for a few minutes to get to the stadium.
- The stadium gates will open three hours before the game begins.
- The stadium parking lot will open four hours before the game begins.
- Hayya to Qatar is available for Android, iOS, and Huawei devices.
- To locate the buses, use the Hayya to Qatar app.
- Before you travel, double-check the metro, tram, and bus schedules.
The Saudi government does not want any football fan to miss out on the thrills and excitement of the games, which is why they have made such extensive preparations. Above is a comprehensive Saudi Arabia Guide for the FIFA World Cup so that no adventure is missed and Saudis can proudly support their team. They have taken care of all fans, from those who have tickets to those who do not. Saudi Arabia's football team is ready to entertain their fans with a good game, and authorities are preparing a slew of musical nights, activities, and live match screenings. Take advantage of the best Saudi Arabia tour packages and celebrate the success of your team.
FAQs
This year 6 countries have qualified for the FIFA world cup and this is a new record. Apart from the host Qatar, the other countries qualified are Saudi Arabia, Japan, Iran, South Korea, and Australia.
Applicants can use their FIFA.com user account to process their application for Hayya Fan Card. This card will act as a visa for international football fans and allow them to use all public transport till December 23rd,2022.
Saudi Arabia is in Group C of FIFA world cup teams. The other teams with Saudi Arabia are Argentina, Mexico, and Poland where Saudi Arabia will play their first match with Argentina.
Hayya's card is essential for a football fan to keep with him to watch the FIFA world cup in Qatar. Hayya card allows the tourist to stay in the country till January 23rd, 2022.
Yes, Saudi Arabia is granting visas to tourists having Hayya cards. During FIFA matches, Hayya card holders can obtain a Saudi e-visa without paying any fees. The benefits of taking the visa are that multiple entries will be allowed, the visa will be valid for up to 60 days or till December 18th, 2022, and they can perform the holy pilgrimage of Umrah if they wish to do so.
Saudi Arabia is going to play its first match on the 21st of November with Argentina. The stadiums where the Saudi team will play the group stage matches are Lusail Iconic Stadium, and Education City Stadium.
Saudi Arabia has announced a variety of events during the FIFA world cup for fans. Some of the famous events are:
- XP Music Futures
- Sound Storm
- Balad Beast
It’s a true delight for football fans because if they are not having a ticket to watch the thrill of the matches, they can still watch them with the same kind of thrill and excitement as other fans. Saudi Arabia is organizing Riyadh Season 2022, where fans can watch the live matches on a big screen with thousands of fans.
