How Long Since Saudi Arabia Won an AFC Asian Cup?

Saudi Arabia's trophy history

Saudi Arabia's most recent AFC Asian Cup title came in 1996, held on home soil, where they beat the UAE on penalties in the final to win a third continental title in eight years, following earlier wins in 1984 and 1988. That late-1980s to mid-1990s period remains the high point of Saudi men's football, a golden era that also included reaching the World Cup round of 16 on their tournament debut in 1994. Since 1996, Saudi Arabia have reached only one more Asian Cup final, in 2007, losing to Iraq, meaning their continental drought now stretches back roughly three decades despite remaining one of the region's most consistently funded football programs.

All major titles

Major finals

Legendary players

• Majed Abdullah — Saudi Arabia's all-time leading scorer and star of their golden era through the 1980s and 1990s.
• Saeed Al-Owairan — Scored a famous solo goal against Belgium at the 1994 World Cup, still regarded as one of the greatest World Cup goals by an Asian player.
• Mohamed Al-Deayea — Goalkeeper who held the world record for most international caps for over a decade.

Interesting facts

• Saudi Arabia's three Asian Cup titles (1984, 1988, 1996) are tied for the joint-most in the tournament's history.
• Saudi Arabia reached the World Cup round of 16 on their tournament debut in 1994, memorably beating Belgium and Morocco in the group stage.
• Saudi Arabia has not won the Asian Cup since 1996, despite reaching the final again in 2007.
• Saudi Arabia is scheduled to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup, which will be their first time hosting the tournament.

Frequently asked questions

Related teams

South KoreaQatarJapanIraqAustralia