75 days to go…
We’re counting down to the FIFA World Cup 2026™ by showcasing a golazo from the global finals each day.
Saeed Al-Owairan
Belgium v Saudi Arabia
USA 1994 | Group F
RFK Stadium, Washington, D.C.
“I felt under intense pressure going into the World Cup,” explained Saeed Al-Owairan. “All the goalscoring pressure was heaped on me even though I didn’t play as a striker. When I didn’t score in the first game, it was worse. When I didn’t score in the second, it was indescribable.”
Then a phone call acted as a stress vacuum. “King Fahd bin Abdulaziz Al Saud called me, saying, ‘God bless those who play beautiful football. You’ll score against Belgium.’”
A ringing of royal confidence worked. It liberated Al-Owairan to try something few would have dared. Collecting the adidas Questra deep inside his own half, the 26-year-old set off, darted between Franky Van Der Elst and Dirk Medved, side-stepped Michel De Wolf, beat Rudi Smidts and, 69 metres after setting off, fizzed it past the great Michel Preud’homme.
It was meaningful as well as mind-blowing. It secured a 1-0 victory that made Saudi Arabia only the second Asian team to advance from the group stage;
“I’ll cherish that goal forever,” said Al-Owairan. “It was described as mythical. It was a dream for all Saudis and all Arabs. I just wish mobile phones and social media were around at that time!”
