Saudi Arabia face South Korea in an international friendly at the Jassim bin Hamad Stadium in Doha on Friday, November 13. The match kicks off at 5:30 PM local time (8:00 PM IST).
It is the first of two friendlies during Saudi Arabia’s training camp in the Qatari capital. Head coach Georgios Donis has called up 30 players for the camp, which runs until November 17, when the Green Falcons face Uzbekistan.
The match comes at a tense moment for Donis. Several reports have suggested the Greek coach could lose his job, even though his results have been reasonable. He has won five of his 11 games in charge, and in October he led Saudi Arabia to the Gulf Cup 27 title. Donis is also looking to bring younger players into the squad to lower the team’s average age.
Beating South Korea would quiet his critics, but history is against Saudi Arabia. According to Goal, the Green Falcons are trying to end a jinx against the Koreans that has lasted 21 years.
Friday’s game will be the seventh friendly between the nations, a series that began in 1980. South Korea have won two of those, Saudi Arabia one, and three ended level. Saudi fans’ favourite memory of the fixture is the 2000 Asian Cup semi-final, when Talal Al-Meshal scored twice in a 2-1 win. The most recent meeting, in the round of 16 at the 2023 Asian Cup, ended 1-1 before South Korea won on penalties.
South Korea are also rebuilding after a disappointing 2026 World Cup, where they went out in the group stage despite winning their opening game against Czechia. In October they beat Ecuador and Uzbekistan, lost to Uruguay and drew with Venezuela. Son Heung-min remains their biggest name.
Both teams are using the window to prepare for the 2027 Asian Cup, which has been moved to December 23, 2027 to January 21, 2028 in Saudi Arabia. For the hosts, the Doha camp is an early chance to build a team that can compete for the title on home soil.
After the Uzbekistan game, Saudi Pro League action resumes on November 20.
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