Sami Al-Jaber recounts World Cup journey on FIFA Podcast

Saudi Arabian football legend Sami Al-Jaber has shared his World Cup memories on The FIFA Podcast, reflecting on his journey from childhood dreams to playing in four consecutive tournaments.

Childhood dreams inspired by 1986 World Cup

Al-Jaber, who appeared at USA 1994, France 1998, Korea/Japan 2002, and Germany 2006, recalled watching the 1986 World Cup in Mexico as a child. "I remember I was watching the 1986 World Cup in Mexico. I saw all the details, like Brazil, the French team, [Michel] Platini at that time. I saw so many, and when the games finished, I grabbed the ball and I went outside and I commentated on myself, like, 'I'm playing for Saudi Arabia in the national team. This is here, Mexico City.' It was a dream. The dream has grown up with me," he told host Mikaël Silvestre.

Road to Saudi Arabia's first World Cup

Nearly eight years later, Al-Jaber helped Saudi Arabia qualify for their first World Cup, scoring in a thrilling 4-3 qualifying win over Iran. The Green Falcons had never reached the tournament before, and expectations were low. "We knew that the Netherlands were in our group, and there was (Ruud) Gullit, then (Marc) Overmars, you know the squad: top players who played in Europe. A golden generation," Al-Jaber said. "The second-best team at that time was Belgium, [who] had Enzo Scifo and all them. The last is Morocco, [who] at that time had maybe 90 per cent of that generation playing in the French league."

"Before we left for the World Cup, we'd see people in the street who'd be saying to us, 'Please, don't lose 7-0, don't lose 9-0. Please don't lose by many goals, just go there, play with your heart.' Nobody expected us to go into this strong group stage and play games like we did," he added.

Historic debut performance

Saudi Arabia not only competed but thrived. Al-Jaber scored in their maiden win over Morocco, and a stunning solo goal by Saeed Al-Owairan secured a victory over Belgium, sending the newcomers to the round of 16. Sweden ended their run, but Al-Jaber and his teammates had etched their names into the nation's sporting folklore, setting a standard that has yet to be surpassed at the global finals.

Today, Saudi Arabia are World Cup regulars, having played at seven of the previous nine tournaments—the same number as Croatia and one more than four-time champions Italy. Al-Jaber's journey from a dreaming child to a four-time World Cup participant remains an inspiration.

The FIFA Podcast, hosted by Christian Vieri and Mikaël Silvestre, offers exclusive access, expert analysis, and unforgettable stories from across Canada, Mexico, and the USA leading up to the FIFA World Cup 2026. New episodes are available on the FIFA YouTube Channel.