Saudi Arabia Stages Comeback to Defeat Indonesia 3-2 in Qualifier

Saudi Arabia secured a thrilling 3-2 victory over Indonesia in a crucial Group B match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers on March 15, 2024. The win, highlighted by a double from Feras Al-Brikan, significantly boosts Saudi Arabia’s chances of reaching the finals in North America next year.

The match, held in Jeddah, began with Indonesia taking an early lead when Kevin Diks converted a penalty in the 11th minute. This came after Hassan Al-Tambakhti was deemed to have handled the ball during a free kick. However, the Saudi side quickly responded, with Saleh Abu Al-Shamat leveling the score just six minutes later, striking a right-footed shot from the edge of the area past goalkeeper Maarten Paes.

As the match progressed, Saudi Arabia gained momentum, and Al-Brikan’s pivotal contributions came just before and after halftime. In the 36th minute, a foul on Al-Brikan led to a penalty being awarded after the referee reviewed the incident via the pitch-side monitor. Al-Brikan confidently converted, giving Saudi Arabia a 2-1 lead.

The home side extended their advantage in the 62nd minute, when Al-Brikan capitalized on a rebound following a save from Paes on a low drive by Musab Al-Juwayr. Al-Brikan seized the opportunity, scoring his second goal and effectively securing the points for his team.

Indonesia managed to pull one back with another penalty, converted by Diks in the 88th minute, after Nawaf Bu Washl was penalized for handball in the box during a challenge with Ole Romeny. Despite a late red card shown to Mohammed Kanno in injury time, Saudi Arabia held on for the victory.

Looking ahead, Saudi Arabia will face Iraq in Jeddah on March 19, 2024. A win in that match will guarantee their place in the finals draw, which will be held in December for the World Cup slated to take place in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Meanwhile, Indonesia and Iraq are set to clash on March 16, 2024, as both teams seek to improve their standings in the qualification process.

With six of Asia’s eight guaranteed World Cup spots already filled by teams including Japan, South Korea, Australia, Iran, Jordan, and Uzbekistan, the race for the remaining slots remains fiercely competitive, with one additional spot available through an intercontinental playoff scheduled for March.