# Iraq–Saudi Arabia football rivalry

Iraq and Saudi Arabia are two fierce rivals of the Arab world. Their matches are often considered to be one of the most heated rivalries in the world.
Although received lesser attention comparing to rivalry with Iran of both sides, it is one of the oldest rivalries in Asia. Emotions often run high when two teams meet each others.

## Reason behind the rivalry

The main reasons for this rivalry are political differences, and historical grievances. During the Gulf War in the 1990s, Iraq invaded Kuwait, an ally of Saudi Arabia, and both fought a short but bloody war that would continue to have a major impact on their relations. Due to the Gulf War of 1991, Saudi Arabia and Iraq had no official diplomatic relations, resulting in the 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification matches between the two nations being held on neutral grounds of Bahrain and Jordan.
Recently, accusations from Iraq that Saudi Arabia is instigating terrorist groups, like ISIS and Al-Qaeda, further deepened enmity between the two nations.

## Major tournament matches

1976 AFC Asian Cup qualification
1976 AFC Asian Cup qualification
1982 FIFA World Cup qualification
1994 FIFA World Cup qualification
1996 AFC Asian Cup
2002 FIFA World Cup qualification
2002 FIFA World Cup qualification
2004 AFC Asian Cup
2007 AFC Asian Cup
2015 AFC Asian Cup qualification
2015 AFC Asian Cup qualification
2018 FIFA World Cup qualification
2018 FIFA World Cup qualification

## Matches

    Source:
| # | Date | Competition | Home team | Score | Away team | Goals (home) | Goals (away) | Venue |
| 1 | 22 August 1975 | 1976 Olympic qualification | Iraq | 0–2 | Saudi Arabia | | | Tehran |
| 2 | 25 November 1975 | 1976 AFC Asian Cup qualification | Iraq | 1–1 | Saudi Arabia | Ahmed 86' | Al-Mugnim 4' | Al-Shaab Stadium, Baghdad |
| 3 | 2 December 1975 | 1976 AFC Asian Cup qualification | Iraq | 2–1 | Saudi Arabia | Subhi 13', Hassan 42' | Bakhit 54' | Al-Shaab Stadium, Baghdad |
| 4 | 29 March 1976 | 1976 Gulf Cup | Saudi Arabia | 1–7 | Iraq | Suroor 82' | Waal 3', Abdul-Jalil 6', Hassan 25', Kadhim 45', 60', 68' Subhi 89' | Doha |
| 5 | 31 August 1976 | Friendly | Saudi Arabia | 0–0 | Iraq | | | Riyadh |
| 6 | 14 December 1978 | 1978 Asian Games | Iraq | 1–1 | Saudi Arabia | Ali 40' | | Bangkok |
| 7 | 8 April 1979 | 1979 Gulf Cup | Iraq | 2–0 | Saudi Arabia | Hassan 24', Farhan 36' | | Al Shaab Stadium, Baghdad |
| 8 | 21 March 1981 | 1982 FIFA World Cup qualification | Saudi Arabia | 1–0 | Iraq | Dabo 82' | | Al Malaz Stadium, Riyadh |
| 9 | 24 March 1982 | 1982 Gulf Cup | Iraq | 1–1 | Saudi Arabia | | | |
| 10 | 1 December 1982 | 1982 Asian Games | Saudi Arabia | 0–1 | Iraq | | H.Mohammed 17' | Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi |
| 11 | 17 March 1984 | 1984 Gulf Cup | Iraq | 4–0 | Saudi Arabia | Shaker 25', Saeed 57', 70', 84' | | Royal Oman Police Stadium, Muscat |
| 12 | 10 July 1985 | 1985 Arab Nations Cup | Iraq | 3–2 | Saudi Arabia | Abid 12', 18', Rashid 28' | Nu'eimeh 12' (pen.), Al-Jawad 88' | King Fahd Stadium, Taif |
| 13 | 14 August 1985 | 1985 Pan Arab Games | Iraq | 2–1 | Saudi Arabia | Radhi | Abdullah 21' (pen.) | Stade Mohammed V, Casablanca |
| 14 | 30 March 1986 | 1986 Gulf Cup | Iraq | 1–2 | Saudi Arabia | Saddam 75' | | Manama |
| 15 | 1 October 1986 | 1986 Asian Games | Saudi Arabia | 1–1 (a.e.t.) | Iraq | Al-Shehrani 39' | H.Mohammed 51' | Seoul Olympic Stadium, Seoul |
| 16 | 4 December 1987 | 1988 Olympic qualification | Saudi Arabia | 0–0 | Iraq | | | Riyadh |
| 17 | 1 January 1988 | 1988 Olympic qualification | Iraq | 1–1 | Saudi Arabia | Shaker 51' (pen.) | | Muscat |
| 18 | 16 March 1988 | 1988 Gulf Cup | Iraq | 2–0 | Saudi Arabia | Radhi 59', Gorgis 72' | | King Fahd International Stadium, Riyadh |
| 19 | 15 July 1988 | 1988 Arab Nations Cup | Iraq | 2–0 | Saudi Arabia | Radhi 13', 35' | | Amman |
| 20 | 24 October 1993 | 1994 FIFA World Cup qualification | Iraq | 1–1 | Saudi Arabia | Radhi 1' | Owairan 36' | Khalifa International Stadium, Doha |
| 21 | 8 December 1996 | 1996 AFC Asian Cup | Saudi Arabia | 1–0 | Iraq | Al-Mehallel 26' | | Al-Maktoum Stadium, Dubai |
| 22 | 31 August 2001 | 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification | Saudi Arabia | 1–0 | Iraq | Al-Dosari 45' | | Bahrain National Stadium, Manama |
| 23 | 5 October 2001 | 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification | Iraq | 1–2 | Saudi Arabia | Abu Al-Hail 31' | Shehan 1', 77' | Amman International Stadium, Amman |
| 24 | 26 July 2004 | 2004 AFC Asian Cup | Saudi Arabia | 1–2 | Iraq | Al-Montashari 57' | Akram 51', Mahmoud 86' | Sichuan Longquanyi Stadium, Chengdu |
| 25 | 5 December 2005 | 2005 West Asian Games | Iraq | 5–1 | Saudi Arabia | Abdul-Amir 8', E.Mohammed 19', Akram 30', Mahmoud 51', 78' | Al-Qadi 53' | Ahmed bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan |
| 26 | 8 December 2005 | 2005 West Asian Games | Iraq | 2–0 | Saudi Arabia | Salah 33', Farhan 85' | | |
| 27 | 15 March 2006 | Friendly | Saudi Arabia | 2–2 | Iraq | Temyat 18', Al-Jaber 59' | Shakroun 28', Abdul-Amir 90+4' | Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Stadium, Jeddah |
| 28 | 24 January 2007 | 2007 Gulf Cup | Saudi Arabia | 1–0 | Iraq | Al-Qahtani 12' (pen.) | | Al-Nahyan Stadium, Abu Dhabi |
| 29 | 29 July 2007 | 2007 AFC Asian Cup | Iraq | 1–0 | Saudi Arabia | Mahmoud 72' | | Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, Jakarta |
| 30 | 22 March 2009 | Friendly | Saudi Arabia | 0–0 | Iraq | | | King Fahd International Stadium, Riyadh |
| 31 | 28 December 2010 | Friendly | Saudi Arabia | 0–1 | Iraq | | Mahmoud 24' | Prince Mohamed bin Fahd Stadium, Dammam |
| 32 | 5 July 2012 | 2012 Arab Nations Cup | Saudi Arabia | 0–1 | Iraq | | Abdul-Zahra 16' | Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium, Jeddah |
| 33 | 6 January 2013 | 2013 Gulf Cup | Saudi Arabia | 0–2 | Iraq | | Shaker 18', Hawsawi 72' (o.g.) | Khalifa Sports City Stadium, Isa Town |
| 34 | 15 October 2013 | 2015 AFC Asian Cup qualification | Iraq | 0–2 | Saudi Arabia | | Hawsawi 34', Al-Shamrani 78' | Amman International Stadium, Amman |
| 35 | 15 November 2013 | 2015 AFC Asian Cup qualification | Saudi Arabia | 2–1 | Iraq | Jassim 18', Al-Shamrani 60' | Mahmoud 45+1' | Prince Mohamed bin Fahd Stadium, Dammam |
| 36 | 6 September 2016 | 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification | Iraq | 1–2 | Saudi Arabia | Abdul-Raheem 18' | Al-Abed 81' (pen.), 88' (pen.) | Shah Alam Stadium, Shah Alam |
| 37 | 28 March 2017 | 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification | Saudi Arabia | 1–0 | Iraq | Al-Shehri 53' | | King Abdullah Sports City, Jeddah |
| 38 | 28 February 2018 | Friendly | Iraq | 4–1 | Saudi Arabia | Al-Robeai 21' (o.g.), Mohsin 47', Ali 51', 73' | Fallatah 57' | Basra International Stadium, Basra |
| 39 | 15 October 2018 | Friendly | Saudi Arabia | 1–1 | Iraq | Al-Bishi 90+4' | Ali 71' | King Saud University Stadium, Riyadh |
| 40 | 9 January 2023 | 2023 Gulf Cup | Saudi Arabia | 0–2 | Iraq | | Bayesh 30', Rostam 86' | Basra International Stadium, Basra |
| 41 | 28 December 2024 | 2024–25 Gulf Cup | Iraq | 1–3 | Saudi Arabia | Ali 64' | Al-Dawsari 57' (pen.), Al-Hamdan 81', 86' | Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium, Kuwait City |
* 1 2 Not a full FIFA international
* ↑ Iraq competed in the tournament with its B team squad.
* ↑ Saudi Arabia won on penalties.

## Statistics

| Matches held in Iraq | 5 |
| Matches held in neutral venue | 24 |
| Matches held in Saudi Arabia | 12 |
| Total matches | 41 |
| Matches won by Iraq | 18 |
| Matches won by Saudi Arabia | 12 |