World Cup 2026: Saudi football's star-studded revolution has yet to lift the national team

World Cup 2026: Saudi football's star-studded revolution has yet to lift the national team Submitted by Bassil Mikdadi on Mon, 06/15/2026 - 07:55 Three years after Cristiano Ronaldo's arrival helped launch Saudi Arabia's football spending spree, questions linger as to whether investment in clubs will translate into international success Saudi Arabia's Salem al-Dawsari controls the ball in the second half of a friendly match with Puerto Rico at the Q2 Stadium in Austin, Texas on 5 June 2026 (AFP/Daniel Jefferson) Off On a sunny winter afternoon at Lusail Stadium in 2022, Saudi Arabia pulled off one of the biggest upsets in football history. Down a goal at half-time, the Green Falcons struck twice early in the second half to take a 2-1 lead over eventual champions Argentina. The result washed away World Cup humiliations from previous tournaments.