Iraq–Saudi Arabia football rivalry explained

Iraq–Saudi Arabia rivalry
Other Names:Iraq vs Saudi Arabia
City Or Region:Asia (AFC)
West Asia (WAFF)
First Contested:29 March 1976
Teams Involved:
Most Wins:Iraq (18)
Mostrecent:Saudi Arabia 0–2 Iraq

Total:40
Largestvictory:Saudi Arabia 1–7 Iraq

Iraq and Saudi Arabia are two fierce rivals of the Arab world. Their matches are often considered to be one of the most heated rivalries in the world.

Although received lesser attention comparing to rivalry with Iran of both sides, it is one of the oldest rivalries in Asia.[1] Emotions often run high when two teams meet each others.

Reason behind the rivalry

The main reasons for this rivalry are political differences, and historical grievances. During the Gulf War in the 1990s, Iraq invaded Kuwait, an ally of Saudi Arabia, and both fought a short but bloody war that would continue to have a major impact on their relations.[2] Due to the Gulf War of 1991, Saudi Arabia and Iraq had no official diplomatic relations, resulting in the 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification matches between the two nations being held on neutral grounds of Bahrain and Jordan.

Recently, accusations from Iraq that Saudi Arabia is instigating terrorist groups, like ISIS and Al-Qaeda, further deepened enmity between the two nations.

Major tournament matches

1976 AFC Asian Cup qualification----1976 AFC Asian Cup qualification----1982 FIFA World Cup qualification----1994 FIFA World Cup qualification----1996 AFC Asian Cup----2002 FIFA World Cup qualification----2002 FIFA World Cup qualification----2004 AFC Asian Cup----2007 AFC Asian Cup----2015 AFC Asian Cup qualification----2015 AFC Asian Cup qualification----2018 FIFA World Cup qualification----2018 FIFA World Cup qualification

Matches

Source:[3]

Date Competition Home team Score Away team Goals (home)Goals (away)Venue
122 August 19751976 Olympic qualification[4] 0–2 Tehran
225 November 19751976 AFC Asian Cup qualification1–1 Al-Shaab Stadium, Baghdad
32 December 19752–1 Al-Shaab Stadium, Baghdad
429 March 19761976 Gulf Cup1–7 Doha
531 August 1976Friendly0–0 Riyadh
614 December 19781978 Asian Games1–1 Bangkok
78 April 19791979 Gulf Cup2–0 Al Shaab Stadium, Baghdad
821 March 19811982 FIFA World Cup qualification1–0 Al Malaz Stadium, Riyadh
924 March 19821982 Gulf Cup1–1
101 December 19821982 Asian Games0–1 Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi
1117 March 19841984 Gulf Cup4–0 Royal Oman Police Stadium, Muscat
1210 July 19851985 Arab Nations Cup3–2 King Fahd Stadium, Taif
1314 August 19851985 Pan Arab Games[5] 2–1 Stade Mohammed V, Casablanca
1430 March 19861986 Gulf Cup1–2 Manama
151 October 19861986 Asian Games1–1 [6] Seoul Olympic Stadium, Seoul
164 December 19871988 Olympic qualification[7] 0–0 Riyadh
171 January 19881–1 Muscat
1816 March 19881988 Gulf Cup2–0 King Fahd International Stadium, Riyadh
1915 July 19881988 Arab Nations Cup2–0 Amman
2024 October 19931994 FIFA World Cup qualification1–1 Khalifa International Stadium, Doha
218 December 19961996 AFC Asian Cup1–0 Al-Maktoum Stadium, Dubai
2231 August 20012002 FIFA World Cup qualification1–0 Bahrain National Stadium, Manama
235 October 20011–2 Amman International Stadium, Amman
2426 July 20042004 AFC Asian Cup1–2 Sichuan Longquanyi Stadium, Chengdu
255 December 20052005 West Asian Games5–1 Ahmed bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan
268 December 20052–0
2715 March 2006Friendly2–2 Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Stadium, Jeddah
2824 January 20072007 Gulf Cup1–0 Al-Nahyan Stadium, Abu Dhabi
2929 July 20072007 AFC Asian Cup1–0 Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, Jakarta
3022 March 2009Friendly0–0 King Fahd International Stadium, Riyadh
3128 December 20100–1 Prince Mohamed bin Fahd Stadium, Dammam
325 July 20122012 Arab Nations Cup0–1 Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium, Jeddah
336 January 20132013 Gulf Cup0–2 Khalifa Sports City Stadium, Isa Town
3415 October 20132015 AFC Asian Cup qualification0–2 Amman International Stadium, Amman
3515 November 20132–1 Prince Mohamed bin Fahd Stadium, Dammam
366 September 20162018 FIFA World Cup qualification1–2 Shah Alam Stadium, Shah Alam
3728 March 20171–0 King Abdullah Sports City, Jeddah
3828 February 2018Friendly4–1 Basra International Stadium, Basra
3915 October 20181–1 King Saud University Stadium, Riyadh
409 January 20232023 Gulf Cup0–2 Basra International Stadium, Basra

Statistics

width=250px Matches held in Iraq 5
width=250px Matches held in neutral venue 23
width=250px Matches held in Saudi Arabia 12
width=250px Total matches40
width=250px Matches won by Iraq18
width=250px Matches won by Saudi Arabia11

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Match Preview: Iraq vs Saudi Arabia . 27 February 2018 . 14 June 2018 . 7 August 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180807075239/http://socceriraq.net/2018/02/27/match-preview-iraq-vs-saudi-arabia/ . live .
  2. Web site: World Cup '94-political Football - tribunedigital-chicagotribune . articles.chicagotribune.com . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150512175806/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1993-10-15/sports/9310190165_1_saudi-arabia-world-cup-usa-south-korea-north-korea . 2015-05-12.
  3. Web site: Iraq national football team: Record v Saudi%20Arabia . 2018-06-14 . 2016-06-16 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160616070133/http://www.11v11.com/teams/iraq/tab/opposingTeams/opposition/Saudi%20Arabia/ . live .
  4. Not a full FIFA international
  5. Iraq competed in the tournament with its B team squad.
  6. Saudi Arabia won on penalties.
  7. Not a full FIFA international

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