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The Saudi Arabia squad at the 2026 FIFA World Cup has options in goal, but whoever they pick will have to be at the top of their game.
Beginning Monday night with an opener against Uruguay, it's likely that they'll give up plenty of shots. To pick up results and pursue a route out of the group, Saudi Arabia will need a talented shot stopper in net.
On paper, one option stands above the rest.
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Who is Saudi Arabia's goalie?
The logical choice to play in goal for Saudi Arabia is Mohammed Al-Owais.
He's a 34-year old goalie who was born in Al-Hasa in Saudi Arabia.
He currently plays his club football for Al-Ula in the Saudi First Division League (which is the second tier in Saudi Arabia).
Al-Owais has 64 appearances for his country prior to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
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Mohammed Al-Owais history at World Cup
Al-Owais has played in two World Cup tournaments already.
He didn't enter 2018 as a starter, but he ended up getting a start against, fittingly, Uruguay. He made good saves in a 1-0 loss.
He was the first-stringer in 2022 and led Saudi Arabia to a 2-1 upset of Argentina to open the tournament in Qatar.
He also performed well against Mexico to end group play.
Al-Owais won't be fazed by the stage.
More FIFA World Cup news:
- Japan fans clean up the stadium after World Cup games
- Spain makes a massive Lamine Yamal mistake
- Ref cams are making quite the fashion statement
- Lawrence, Kansas has fallen in love with the Algerian national team
- Cyle Larin proves all the cliches true for Canada
Billy Heyen
Billy Heyen is a freelance writer with The Sporting News. He is a 2019 graduate of Syracuse University who spent his senior year following Jim Boeheim's basketball team around the country. His reporting work has also included extensive high school sports coverage at the Sandusky Register and Rochester Democrat & Chronicle. Adventures in sports writing have also led to in-person coverage of the Buffalo Sabres, Cleveland Guardians, U.S. men's national soccer team and a variety of minor league baseball stories. When people ask if he's seen a movie, the answer is usually "No, I was probably watching sports." Even away from sports, his main hobby is running (much slower than any athlete in these pages).
Source: Sporting News
