| Facts : |
| • |
Saudi Arabia qualified for
their third successive FIFA World Cup™
finals in 2002. The royal family had forbidden
football in the kingdom until 1951. In 1994,
shock wins over Belgium and Morocco saw them
reach the second round, where Sweden proved
too strong and triumphed 3-1. |
| • |
Four years later they failed to progress
from the group stage after being overpowered
by Denmark and eventual winners France. |
| • |
In 2002, Saudi Arabia opened their tournament
with an 8-0 loss at the hands of Germany.
Subsequent, though more moderate, defeats
to Cameroon and Republic of Ireland were merely
exercises in damage limitation. |
