Loading ...Gold Cup 2025: Saudi Arabia's Journey Ends in Quarterfinals
By: Jake Harris / Arab America Contributing Writer
The Gold Cup is the primary soccer competition of North America’s CONCACAF federation. In the most recent editions of the tournament, a guest team from a different continent has been invited to add competition for the continental dominance of Mexico, Canada, and the United States. The 2025, and 2027 Gold Cups involves the Saudi Arabia national team as the guest.
Saudi Arabia World Cup Qualifying Campaign
Saudi Arabia’s Gold Cup campaign exists within the context of the ongoing World Cup qualifying campaign to conclude this fall. It has been an underwhelming campaign for Saudi Arabia to say the least. Despite the fact that Saudi Arabia are in a group with Asian heavyweights Japan and Australia, 3 wins out of 10 matches will be seen as a disappointing result. Saudi Arabia’s World Cup qualification hopes still remain very much alive. They move to the fourth round of qualification where they will either make the tournament by winning the group, or play an intercontinental playoff for one of the final remaining places in the tournament. If they were to finish last in their group of three, they would be eliminated.
Gold Cup Group Stage
Saudi Arabia opened up their Gold Cup campaign with a narrow 1-0 win over minnows Haiti. The only goal came from a 21st minute penalty kick from striker Saleh Alshehri. Despite an unconvincing win against inferior opposition, the win put Saudi Arabia in an ideal position to qualify for the Quarterfinals. The second group stage match came against the United States. A United States team that also came into the tournament in poor form. Star players Christian Pulisic, Gio Reyna and Weston McKennie all decided to skip out on the tournament due to club commitments or rest. Saudi Arabia defended well in the first half denying the US any clear cut chances. Despite their efforts, a 67th minute goal from defender Chris Richards gave the United States all 3 points. Saudi Arabia would need a draw against Trinidad and Tobago to qualify.
Ten minutes into the game against Trinidad and Tobago, disaster struck. Dante Sealy cut inside on his left foot just outside the Saudi penalty area curling in a stunning left footed shot into the top corner of the net. If this result held, Saudi Arabia would be eliminated from the Gold Cup. After dominating possession and the stat sheet, Saudi Arabia equalized in the 60th minute. A shot that landed off the crossbar was rebounded by Feras Albrikan and slotted into the back of the net. The draw was enough for Saudi Arabia to advance to the Quarterfinals.
Gold Cup Quarterfinal
The opponent would be Mexico, the most decorated Gold Cup team. Saudi Arabia had previously faced Mexico in the Group Stage of the World Cup in Qatar back in 2022. The game ended in a 2-1 win for Mexico
The first half was uneventful in terms of big chances. Mexico dominated possession as Saudi Arabia were happy to sit back and hope for a counter attacking opportunity. Out of Mexico’s 8 shots, only one of them was actually on target. A shoving match between players over a tackle led to both teams receiving yellow cards prior to the halftime whistle.
Mexico hit the crossbar in the 48th minute making it the biggest opportunity of the match so far. The Saudi defensive line finally fractured in minute 50 as a goal initially ruled to be offside from Mexico was overturned following a VAR review. Despite reasonably strong defending, Saudi Arabia was incredibly lacking in terms of attacking threat. The lack of creativity made their attacking moves all too predictable for the Mexican defense. Any hope of getting back into the game disintegrated when an intended clearance of a Mexico cross into the box was knocked in for an own-goal. The game finished 2-0 with Mexico advancing to face Honduras in the semifinals. Saudi Arabia only recorded 1 shot in the entire 90 minutes.
Looking to the Future
During the match, US soccer legend Landon Donovan, who was on commentary made an interesting observation. He raised the question as to whether the Saudi Arabian domestic league signing lots of foreign players from Europe was having an adverse effect on the national team. He compared this to the struggles of Major League Soccer in becoming an elite league due to the league’s clubs constantly signing old stars from Europe who were past their prime.
Despite the current struggles, Saudi Arabia is coming off two consecutive World Cup appearances in Russia and Qatar, after missing out on Brazil 2014, and South Africa 2010. Saudi Arabia will host the 2034 FIFA World Cup becoming the second Arab country to do so.
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