The date of today’s matches Fixtures & Details (05-June-2025)

History of Saudi Arabia vs. Bahrain in the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers: A Gulf Clash with a Special Character

As part of the new round of Asian qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, Arab and Gulf football fans are anticipating an exciting match between the Saudi national team and the Bahrain national team, scheduled for this evening at 7:00 PM Mecca time.

This match is considered one of the most prominent matches in the qualifiers, given the long history between the two teams and their traditional rivalry on the field.

A Rich History Between the Two Teams:

The confrontation between Saudi Arabia and Bahrain is not new. The past decades have witnessed numerous official and friendly matches between the two sides, whether in World Cup qualifiers, the Gulf Cup, or Asian championships. Here are the most prominent features of this football history:

✅ Number of Head-to-Head Matches:

The two teams have met in more than 40 matches in various tournaments.

The Saudi national team has prevailed in a large number of these matches, with Bahrain also having a clear advantage at times.

✅ Specifically in World Cup qualifiers:

They have met more than once in World Cup qualifiers, most notably:

2002 qualifiers: The first leg ended 1-1, with Saudi Arabia winning the second leg 3-1.

2010 qualifiers: The two teams drew 0-0 in Bahrain, and 2-2 in Saudi Arabia, with Bahrain qualifying on away goals.

The 2010 qualifiers were one of the most exciting, with Bahraini Ismail Abdullatif scoring the last-minute winner in Riyadh, eliminating the Saudis from the final qualifiers.

Technical analysis ahead of the 2026 match:

The Saudi national team, under the leadership of Italian coach Roberto Mancini, enters this match with great ambitions to secure early qualification and continue their strong results in the qualifiers.

As for the Bahraini national team, they seek to turn the tables and achieve a positive result that will enhance their chances of competing for a qualification ticket, capitalizing on their young players and their well-known fighting spirit.

📊 Pre-match statistics:
Saudi Arabia vs. Bahrain
Total matches: 40+

Wins: About 20, Less than 10
Draws: About 10
Last official match: 2019 – Bahrain 1-0 Saudi Arabia (Gulf Cup 24 Final)

Importance of the match:

Saudi Arabia is seeking to secure early qualification and consolidate its lead in the group.

Bahrain is looking for a surprise that could reshuffle the group.

Gulf fans are anticipating a strong match, characterized by rivalry and shared history.

Match time:

📅 Date: Today

🕖 Time: 8:00 PM Mecca time.

Iraq vs. South Korea: A fiery encounter in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers

Asian football fans are turning their attention this evening to the match between Iraq and South Korea, as part of the Asian qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, at 9:15 PM Mecca time. This encounter is considered one of the strongest in the Yellow Continent, as the two teams have previously met on several occasions, always full of excitement and rivalry.

History of Matches Between Iraq and South Korea

Recent years have witnessed many strong encounters between the two teams, whether in qualifiers, the Asian Cup, or friendly matches. Both teams have an impressive record on the continent.

Key Match Statistics:

📊 Number of official and friendly matches: More than 25 matches.

🇰🇷 South Korea has won most of these matches, capitalizing on its organizational and tactical strength.

🇮🇶 Iraq, for its part, has achieved important historic victories, most notably in the 2007 Asian Cup.

🤝 Some matches ended in draws, and were competitive until the last minute.

An Unpredictable Match

Although South Korea enters the match as one of the continent’s strongest teams, especially with the presence of international stars like Son Heung-min, the Iraqi team has always proven its ability to compete with the big teams, especially in matches held on Arab soil or in front of large Iraqi fans.

The Iraqi team relies on a young generation characterized by a fighting spirit, with a mixture of experience in some positions, and is striving to seize points against a stubborn opponent.

The Two Teams’ Positions in the Group

✅ South Korea: occupies an advanced position in the group and has not suffered a single loss so far.

✅ Iraq: Is competing strongly to secure a place in the next stage, and this match is crucial in its journey.

Match Time

📅 Date: Today

⏰ Time: 10:15 PM Mecca / Baghdad / Seoul Time

This match represents more than three points; It’s a historic clash between two football schools: one, a storied Arab team striving to return to the World Cup, and the other, an Asian team that never misses the global tournament.
All eyes are on this matchup to see who will prevail: the Lions of Mesopotamia or the Tigers of Korea?