The Saudi Arabia national football team is one of the most prominent Arab and Asian teams in the World Cup, having participated in several editions since its first appearance in 1994. The team's heaviest defeat in the World Cup was against Germany in 2002, when they lost 0-8 in the opening match of the tournament held in South Korea and Japan. This match was one of the most severe results in the history of the World Cup, as the German team dominated from the first minutes until the final whistle. 16 years later, the Saudi team suffered its second-heaviest defeat in the World Cup, losing 0-5 to Russia in the opening match of the 2018 World Cup, a result that sparked widespread criticism due to the team's poor performance against the host team. The list of heavy defeats also includes the loss to Spain in the 2026 World Cup, after the Saudi team suffered a 0-4 defeat in a match that saw a clear Spanish superiority in both technical and tactical terms, especially during the first half hour when the Saudi team conceded three goals. The history of the Saudi national team in the World Cup is rich in varied results, having achieved some important victories, such as the win over Argentina in the 2022 World Cup, but also suffered heavy defeats that affect the team's performance.