Saudi Gazette Report

DOHA — Saudi Arabia’s national team will take on the Mexican team at 10:00 p.m. on Wednesday at Lusail Stadium in Qatar in the third and final round of Group C stage matches of the FIFA World Cup 2022. Argentina and Poland, other teams in the same group, will play their match at the same time.

The Saudi team is well poised to grab nothing less than a victory so as to advance to the knockout round of 16 in the World Cup. If the Saudi squad succeeds in beating Mexico, it would be the replication of its debut entry to the pre-quarter round at the 1994 US World Cup, for the first time after a hiatus of 28 years.

The Saudi team began its World Cup campaign with a historic victory 2-1 over superstar Lionel Messi’s Argentina, earning three points. The Green Falcons lost to Poland 2-0 on Saturday’s second round of matches, moving its position into third in the group on the strength of Argentina’s goal difference. Poland leads with four points while Mexico is in fourth place with one point after drawing with Poland and losing to Argentina 2-0 in the second round.

The Saudi team needs to defeat Mexico to ensure qualification to the round of 16. If Saudi wins and Argentina draws with Poland, the Green Falcons will emerge the topper in the group; and if Poland wins, it will remain in the first place.

A draw will be enough for the Saudi squad to qualify for the round of 16 if Argentina loses to Poland, who will be first with seven points, allowing the Saudi team to qualify second with four points.

Star players, including Captain Salman Al-Faraj and defender Yasser Al-Shahrani, are not playing against Mexico due to their injuries. Another defender Abdulelah Al-Maliki is also not in a position to play in the match as he got a second yellow card in the match against Poland.