Live Action: Saudi Arabia v China (2026 World Cup Qualifiers)

Leaders-Mena magazine provided a live coverage for Thursday’ game between Saudi Arabia and China in the seventh round of the Asian 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

 

Fulltime: Saudi Arabia 1-0 China
Scorers: Salem Al-Dawsari 50′

Yellow cards:
Shangyuan Wang (China)

Red card:
Lin Liangming (China)

 

Fulltime

90+4′ Second half ends.

90+3′ China win a corner kick, conceded by Hassan Tambakti.

90+1′ Substitution for China: Hu Hetao replaces Xie Wenneng

90′ The fourth official announces 4 minutes of added time.

89′ Abdullah Al-Hamddan’s left-footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.

85′ Substitution for Saudi Arabia: Marwan Al-Sahafi replaces injured Nasser Al-Dawsari.

83′ Delay in match because of an injury to Nasser Al-Dawsari

80′ Abdullah Al-Hamddan unleashes a left-footed shot from the centre of the box, but the goalkeeper makes a brilliant save in the centre of the goal.

77′ China’s Yang Zexiang wins a free kick in the defensive half.

74′ Ayman Yahya’s left-footed shot from close range is close but misses the top right corner.

73′ Salem Al-Dawsari connects with Abdullah Al-Hamddan’s pass with a left-footed strike from the left side of the box, but the goalkeeper makes a save in the top centre of the goal.

73′ Double subs for Saudi Arabia: Abdullah Al-Hamddan replaces Musab Al-Juwayr; Abdullah Al-Salem comes in for Firas Al-Buraikan

70′ Saudi Arabia’s forward Ayman Yahya is ruled offside.

69′ Firas Al-Burikan’s left-footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked

67′ The Green Falcons are pulling forward, aiming to double their lead.

66′ Corner kick for Saudi Arabia from the right side

63′ Double subs for China: Li Yuanyi replaces Zhang Yuning; Xu Haoyang comes in for Wei Shihao

62′ The referee awards Saudi Arabia a free kick on the left side.

60’ At the hour-mark, Saudi Arabia are still in the lead and remain in control of the game, dominating possession with 75%.

58′ Nasser Al-Dawsari’s right-footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right.

55′ Throw-in for Saudi Arabia in their own half.

54′ Substitution for Saudi Arabia: Muhannad Al-Shanqiti replaces injured Saud Abdulhamid

52′ Delay in match because of an injury Saud Abdulhamid

51′ Salem Al-Dawsari connects with Saud Abdulhamid’s cross with a right-footed strike from outside the box, but it goes high and wide to the right.

(GOAL) Salem Al-Dawsari connects with Saud Abdulhamid’s precise cross with a right-footed strike from very close range to the centre of the goal

50′ GOOOAAAL… Saudi Arabia score

48′ China win a free kick in their own half.

46′ Second half begins

46′ Double subs for China: Yang Zexiang replaces Gao Zhunyi; Behram Abduweli comes in for Cao Yongjing

Halftime

45+12′ First Half ends

45+10′ Ayman Yahya connects with Saud Abdulhamid’s cross following a corner kick with a header from close range, but it goes high and wide to the right

45+8′ Substitution for Saudi Arabia: Ali Lajami comes in for Hassan Kadish.

45+8′ Salem Al-Dawsari strikes the ball with his right foot from the left side of the box, but it goes high and wide to the right.

45+4′ Fourth official announces 6 minutes of added time

45+2′ China’s Lin Liangming receives a straight red card for a very bad foul on Hassan Kadish

45′ Substitution for China: Pengfei Han replaces Tyias Browning

42′ Corner for Saudi Arabia, conceded by Wei Shihao.

39′ GOAL OVERTURNED BY VAR: Faisal Al-Ghamdi scores but the goal is ruled out after a VAR review.

30′ Saud Abdulhamid wins a free kick in the defensive half.

27′ Salem Al Dawsari uleashes a left-footed strike from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Feras Al Brikan.

25′ Wei Shihao’s right-footed shot from a difficult angle and long range on the left is saved.

22′ Nawaf Al-Boushal hits the bar with a right-footed shot from the left side of the box. Assisted by Salem Al-Dawsari.

21′ China’s Shangyuan Wang gets a yellow card for a bad foul.

21′ Musab Al-Juwayr wins a free kick in the defensive half.

15′ Musab Al-Juwayr’s right-footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Salem Al Dawsari following a set-piece.

14′ Salem Al-Dawsari wins a free kick on the left wing.

10′ Saudi Arabia’s Hassan Tambakti wins a free kick in the defensive half.

7′ Xie Wenneng’s left-footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked.

5′ The Green Falcons are pushing forward in an attempt to grab an early goal

1′ First half begins

Lineups:

Saudi Arabia: Nawaf Al-Aqidi; Nawaf Al-Boushal, Saud Abdulhamid (Muhannad Al-Shanqiti 54), Hassan Tambakti, Hassan Kadesh (Ali Lajam 45+8); Nasser Al-Dawsari (Marwan Al-Sahafi 85), Faisal Al-Ghamdi, Musab Al-Juwayr (Abdullah Al-Hamddan 73); Ayman Yahya, Firas Al-Buraikan (Abdullah Al-Salem 73), Salem Al-Dawsari

China: Wang Dalei; Tyias Browning (Pengfei Han 45), Zhunyi Gao (Yang Zexiang 46), Cao Yongjing (Behram Abduweli 46), Shenglong Jiang, Lei Li, Wenneng Xie (Hu Hetao 90+1), Shangyuan Wang, Liangming Lin, Wei Shihao (Xu Haoyang 63), Yuning Zhang (Li Yuanyi 63)

18:00 Probable lineups:

Saudi Arabia: Al-Kassar; Abdul Hamid, Al-Tambakti, Lajami, Boushal; Kanno; Al-Sahafi, Al-Juwayr, N Al-Dawsari, S Al-Dawsari; Al-Buraikan
China: D Wang; Z Yang, S Jiang, Zhunyi, Hetao; Xu, S Wang, Xie; Serginho; Yuning, Liangming

17:00 The two sides have clashed 21 times previously, with Saudi Arabia emerging victorious in eight matches, while China has won one fewer, and six have ended in a draw. Their most recent encounter dates back to September in the same qualifiers, where the Saudis secured a 2-1 victory.

16:00 China, aiming for their second-ever World Cup qualification, enter the game following a 3-1 defeat to Japan. However, this loss came after back-to-back wins over Bahrain and Indonesia.

15:00 The Green Falcons head into the game on the back of a surprising 2-0 away defeat to Indonesia in the previous round of the qualifiers last November, and despite boasting an impressive 77% ball possession during the game, they failed to create any significant scoring opportunities.

14:00 Saudi Arabia currently sit third in Group C with six points, trailing second-placed Australia by a single point and ten points behind leaders Japan, with four group games remaining. While China are fourth with the same number of points.

13:00 Saudi Arabia will host China on Thursday in the seventh round of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers at Al-Awwal Park Stadium on Thursday, with both sides aim for a victory to keep their qualification hopes alive.

 

Venue: Al-Awwal Park (Riyadh)

Referee: Omar Al-Ali (UAE)

Check the match preview HERE