Saudi Arabia accompanies the United States to the Gold Cup quarterfinals

Saudi Arabia qualified for the quarter-finals of the 2025 Gold Cup, in their first participation as a guest, after a 1-1 draw with Trinidad and Tobago in the third and final round of the group stage (Group D). The "Green Team" raised their score to 4 points, placing them second behind the United States, who topped the group with a full 9 points, following their 2-1 victory over Haiti in the same round. The Saudi team entered the match looking for a qualifying point, but conceded an early goal in the 10th minute from a powerful shot by Dante Celi that surprised the goalkeeper. With the start of the second half, the "Green Team" imposed its superiority and offensive pressure, and Saud Abdulhamid wasted a clear opportunity to score in the 51st minute. In the 59th minute, Firas Al-Brikan translated Saudi Arabia's advantage by scoring the equalizer, taking advantage of a ball that rebounded off the post, scoring his first goal in the tournament and the tenth of his international career. Saudi Arabia continued their quest for the three points, and came close to doing so through a Marwan Al-Sahafi strike, while Trinidad and Tobago nearly snatched victory in the sixth minute of stoppage time, had it not been for the intervention of the post that denied them a last-gasp goal. With this draw, the Saudi team wrote a historic chapter by qualifying for the quarter-finals in its first Gold Cup participation, continuing its journey with confidence and ambition among the continent's major teams.