Although it has received less attention comparing to rivalry with Iran of both sides, it is one of the oldest rivalries in Asia. Emotions often run high when the two teams meet each other.
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
2026 FIFA World Cup qualification
Matches Source:
# Date Competition Home team Score Away team Goals (home)Goals (away)Venue122 August 19751976 Olympic qualificationNot a full FIFA international 0–2 Tehran225 November 19751976 AFC Asian Cup qualification 1–1Ahmed Al-Mugnim Al-Shaab Stadium, Baghdad32 December 1975 2–1 Subhi , Hassan Bakhit Al-Shaab Stadium, Baghdad429 March 19764th Arabian Gulf Cup 1–7 Suroor Waal , Abdul-Jalil , Hassan , Kadhim Subhi Doha55 September 1976Friendly 0–0 Riyadh614 December 19781978 Asian Games 1–1 Ali Bangkok78 April 19795th Arabian Gulf Cup 2–0Hassan , Farhan Al Shaab Stadium, Baghdad821 March 19811982 FIFA World Cup qualification 1–0Dabo Al Malaz Stadium, Riyadh924 March 19826th Arabian Gulf Cup 1–1Saeed Al-Saghir 101 December 19821982 Asian Games 0–1H.Mohammed Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi1117 March 19847th Arabian Gulf Cup 4–0Shaker , Saeed Royal Oman Police Stadium, Muscat1210 July 19851985 Arab Cup 3–2Abid , Rashid Nu'eimeh , Al-Jawad King Fahd Stadium, Taif1314 August 19851985 Arab GamesIraq competed in the tournament with its B team squad. 2–1 Radhi Abdullah Stade Mohammed V, Casablanca148 September 1985Friendly 3–1 Saeed King Fahd Stadium, Taif1510 September 1985Friendly 2–0 Jeddah1630 March 19868th Arabian Gulf Cup 1–2 Saddam Manama171 October 19861986 Asian Games 1–1 ()Saudi Arabia won on penalties.Al-Shehrani H.Mohammed Seoul Olympic Stadium, Seoul184 December 19871988 Olympic qualificationNot a full FIFA international 0–0 Riyadh191 January 1988 1–1 Shaker Muscat2016 March 19889th Arabian Gulf Cup 2–0Radhi , Gorgis King Fahd International Stadium, Riyadh2115 July 19881988 Arab Cup 2–0Radhi Amman2224 October 19931994 FIFA World Cup qualification 1–1Radhi Owairan Khalifa International Stadium, Doha238 December 19961996 AFC Asian Cup 1–0Al-Mehallel Al-Maktoum Stadium, Dubai2431 August 20012002 FIFA World Cup qualification 1–0Al-Dosari Bahrain National Stadium, Manama255 October 2001 1–2Abu Al-Hail Shehan Amman International Stadium, Amman2626 July 20042004 AFC Asian Cup 1–2Al-Montashari Akram , Mahmoud Sichuan Longquanyi Stadium, Chengdu275 December 20052005 West Asian Games 5–1Abdul-Amir , E.Mohammed , Akram , Mahmoud Al-Qadi Ahmed bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan288 December 2005 2–0Salah , Farhan Suheim bin Hamad Stadium, Doha2915 March 2006Friendly 2–2Temyat , Al-Jaber Shakroun , Abdul-Amir Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Stadium, Jeddah3024 January 200718th Arabian Gulf Cup 1–0Al-Qahtani Al-Nahyan Stadium, Abu Dhabi3129 July 20072007 AFC Asian Cup 1–0Mahmoud Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, Jakarta3222 March 2009Friendly 0–0 King Fahd International Stadium, Riyadh3328 December 2010 0–1Mahmoud Prince Mohamed bin Fahd Stadium, Dammam345 July 20122012 Arab Cup 0–1Abdul-Zahra Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium, Jeddah356 January 201321st Arabian Gulf Cup 0–2Shaker , Hawsawi Khalifa Sports City Stadium, Isa Town3615 October 20132015 AFC Asian Cup qualification 0–2Hawsawi , Al-Shamrani Amman International Stadium, Amman3715 November 2013 2–1Jassim , Al-Shamrani Mahmoud Prince Mohamed bin Fahd Stadium, Dammam386 September 20162018 FIFA World Cup qualification 1–2Abdul-Raheem Al-Abed Shah Alam Stadium, Shah Alam3928 March 2017 1–0Al-Shehri King Abdullah Sports City, Jeddah4028 February 2018Friendly 4–1Al-Robeai , Mohsin , Ali Fallatah Basra International Stadium, Basra4115 October 20182018 Superclásico Championship 1–1Al-Bishi Ali King Saud University Stadium, Riyadh429 January 2023 25th Arabian Gulf Cup 0–2Bayesh , Rostam Basra International Stadium, Basra4328 December 2024 26th Arabian Gulf Cup 1–3Ali Al-Dawsari , Al-Hamdan Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium, Kuwait City4414 October 20252026 FIFA World Cup qualification 0–0 King Abdullah Sports City, Jeddah4529 September 2026 27th Arabian Gulf Cup 2–0Al-Salem , Al-Hamdan King Abdullah Sports City, Jeddah
Statistics Matches held in Iraq 5Matches held in neutral venue 24Matches held in Saudi Arabia 16Total matches45Matches won by Iraq18Matches won by Saudi Arabia15
See also Iran–Iraq football rivalry Iran–Saudi Arabia football rivalry
References