Wales v Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia have qualified for six FIFA World Cup finals, appearing in their first tournement in the USA in 1994. They have also won the Asian Cup on three occasions and will host the tournament in 2027.
- 1. History
- 2. Wales record
- 3. Saudi Arabia honours
- 4. Welsh players to have made their debut against Saudi Arabia
- 5. Wales' opponents from the AFC
The Saudi Arabia Football Federation was formed in 1956 and admitted to FIFA in the same year, joining the AFC in 1972.
Saudi Arabia's first official international game was at the 1957 Arab Games in Lebannon when they drew 1-1 with the hosts in Beirut.
Wales' only meeting with Saudi Arabia came in a friendly in 1986.
Head to Head
| P | W | D | L | F | A | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Away | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| ALL | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| no. | date | score | scorers (wales) | venue | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 398 | 25/02/1986 | Saudi Arabia 1-2 Wales | Slatter, G Davies | Prince Saud Bin Jalawi Sport City Stadium, Al Khobar | Fr |
AFC Asian Cup winners (3): 1984, 1988, 1996
AFC Asian Cup runners-up (3): 1992, 2000, 2007
Welsh players to have made their debut against Saudi Arabia
Three Welsh players have made their debut against Saudi Arabia
- Mark Aizlewood (25 February 1986)
- David Williams (25 February 1986)
- Malcolm Allen (25 February 1986)
Wales' opponents from Asian Football Confederation
Wales have faced eight countries from the current Asian Football Confederation.
Israel joined the AFC in 1954 and as such were an AFC member when they played against Wales in a 1958 FIFA World Cup play-off. However, at the Asian Games held in Iran in 1974, some Muslim and Arab countries refused to play against Israel in the football tournament. At the AFC Congress held during the games, Kuwait proposed Israel be excluded from all AFC competitions; a motion adopted by a vote of 17 to 13 with 6 abstentions.
Kuwait were Wales' next opponents from the AFC, with back to back matches played at The Racecourse, Wrexham and the Al Kuwait Sports Club Stadium, Kuwait City in 1977. Goalkeeper, Dai Davies, was unable to play in the return leg in Kuwait having been denied entry for having an Israeli stamp in his passport.
Iran, drawn in Scotland's group for the 1978 World Cup Finals in Argentina, invited Wales to Tehran as part of their tournament preparations.
With the end of the British Home Championships, the Football Association of Wales accepted lucrative offers to play Saudi Arabia in 1986 and to take part in Japan's Kirin Cup in 1992.
