Match story
- Australia fired more attempts (13 vs 3 shots).
- Saudi Arabia was more accurate in front of goal (33% on target vs 15%).
- Saudi Arabia held more of the ball (58% possession).
Australia and Saudi Arabia drew 0-0 in the World Cup - Qualification Asia. The fixture is part of the 3rd Round - 5 stage in the 2026 season. The match was played at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium in Melbourne. A. Al Naqbi officiated the match. The full-time result capped a Australia vs Saudi Arabia meeting in World Cup - Qualification Asia with detailed post-match statistics available on Sportra. This match centre covers lineups, live events, player ratings, team statistics, xG, head-to-head history, and related news for Australia and Saudi Arabia. On Sportra you can view xG, lineups, match statistics, events, player ratings, predictions, head-to-head history, and related news for this fixture.
World Cup - Qualification AsiaRecorded meetings: 4 (available previous meetings, not necessarily all-time).
While the Portuguese superstar continues preparing for another season in Saudi Arabia, developments away from the pitch have placed his growing soccer business interests in the spotlight alongside Al-Ittihad's summer recruitment strategy. Cristiano Ronaldo has unexpectedly found himself connected to one of the biggest transfer stories involving one of Al-Nassr’s fiercest Saudi Pro League rivals. While the Portuguese superstar continues preparing for another season in Saudi Arabia, developments away from the pitch have placed his growing soccer business interests in the spotlight alongside Al-Ittihad’s summer recruitment strategy. The latest move has raised eyebrows across the league, especially as Al-Ittihad moved quickly to strengthen its squad while Al-Nassr is still waiting to complete its first major signing of the transfer window. Ronaldo’s investment outside Saudi Arabia has now played an indirect role in helping one of the club’s biggest domestic competitors. Al-Ittihad has officially completed the signing of Senegal midfielder Dion Lopy from Spanish club Almeria, making him the club’s first overseas arrival of the summer transfer window. According to reports from Al-Riyadiah and several other outlets, the 24-year-old signed a long-term contract after the Tigers agreed to pay approximately $15 million, with the transfer fee scheduled to be paid in installments. The deal also reportedly includes a 10% sell-on clause in favor of Almeria should Lopy be transferred again in the future. The Tigers’ midfield is under the Black Panther’s command 🇸🇳🐅 pic.twitter.com/wDtEPNLc6U— Al-Ittihad Club (@ittihad_en) August 5, 2026 The Saudi club confirmed the transfer through an announcement on its official social media channels, although it did not disclose the financial details. Ronaldo’s Almeria investment creates unexpected link The transfer carries an unusual twist because Almeria is partially owned by Cristiano Ronaldo. Earlier in 2026, Ronaldo acquired a 25% ownership stake in the Spanish club, expanding his soccer portfolio while continuing his playing career with Al-Nassr. That investment means one of Ronaldo’s clubs has now completed a profitable sale to Al-Ittihad, a direct Saudi Pro League rival that continues to challenge Al-Nassr for domestic honors. The timing has attracted attention because Al-Ittihad has already secured its first major foreign signing, while Al-Nassr has yet to bring in a new player during the current transfer window. Cristiano Ronaldo of team Al-Nassr FC competes for the ball with Ahmed Al-Julaydan of team Al-Ittihad FC The Senegal international joins Al-Ittihad following the departure of Brazilian midfielder Fabinho, whose contract expired at the end of last season. Lopy primarily operates as a defensive midfielder, although he is also capable of playing in a deeper central role. His versatility is expected to provide additional balance in midfield as the club prepares for the upcoming Saudi Pro League campaign. Since arriving at Almeria from Stade Reims in 2023, Lopy made 105 appearances, scoring four goals and contributing six assists across all competitions. Tansfer that benefits everyone The midfielder built a reputation in Spain through his physical presence, defensive awareness and ability to recover possession. During the 2025-26 campaign, he featured regularly in midfield while also contributing going forward with three goals and two assists in league competition. Statistical reports highlighted his impact in defensive situations, including strong numbers for tackles, interceptions, ball recoveries and aerial duels. His passing range also made him an attractive option for a possession-based side looking to strengthen its midfield. From the Land of Teranga 🇸🇳 to the Tigers’ Den 🐅 pic.twitter.com/9qz0cG9wQO— Al-Ittihad Club (@ittihad_en) August 5, 2026 For Al-Ittihad, the signing addresses an important gap left by Fabinho’s departure while adding an experienced international midfielder entering
New head coach Matthias Jaissle says he "fully and unreservedly" believes in the Newcastle United project. The club have confirmed the 38-year-old's immediate appointment following the departure of Eddie Howe last month. Jaissle joins from Saudi Arabian side Al-Ahli, where he lead the club to back-to-back AFC Champions League title, having previously been in charge at RB Salzburg for two seasons, securing the Austrian Bundesliga twice and also the Austrian Cup once.
German officially announced as Howe’s successor‘This an incredibly compelling place to be’Matthias Jaissle has described Newcastle “as an incredibly compelling place to be” after finally formalising his managerial move from Saudi Arabia’s Al-Ahli.The 38-year-old German has been with his new players at their training camp in La Manga, southern Spain, since last Saturday but, despite also falling under the ownership of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, Al-Ahli took time to provide Newcastle with some vital paperwork regarding the release of a head coach they were extremely reluctant to lose. Continue reading...
The defender is set to become one of Australia’s most expensive players with a Premier League deal nearly done while some international teammates have already made movesLucas Herrington, fresh off becoming the youngest Australian to start a game at a men’s World Cup, is set to become the second-most expensive footballer in Australian history with a move to newly-promoted Premier League side Hull City. Latest reports suggest a fee of approximately £12.6m ($24.1m), with a further £4.4m ($8.4m) in add-ons, which comes in just shy of the Australian record of £15m plus £5m in add-ons ($38.3m in total) that Leicester paid Stoke City to sign Harry Souttar in 2023.It would set a new selling high-water mark for his current club, Colorado Rapids, and eclipses the decade-old record Hull set when they paid just over £10m for Ryan Mason. Given the trajectory of Herrington’s meteoric rise, it feels a pretty safe bet to assume the 18-year-old will claim Souttar’s record outright sooner rather than later. Continue reading...
From the beginning of the PIF takeover, Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) have put the brakes on Newcastle's ambitions to spend. The Magpies welcomed the new Financial Fair Play rules - the Squad Cost Ratio (SCR), which are now in effect - and, in short, mean the more you generate, the more you can spend. On top of that, in April, the PIF withdrew its multibillion dollar backing of LIV Golf after Yasir Al-Rumayyan - the fund's governor and chairman of Newcastle - confirmed it was reviewing its deals and investments.
Matthias Jaissle, Eddie Howe's replacement at Newcastle United, might not be too well known given that his only head coaching roles to date have been in Austria and Saudi Arabia. So who is the man arriving to take charge at St James' Park?
Howe leaves after five years in charge at St James’ ParkAl-Ahli’s German coach in line to take over Eddie Howe has left Newcastle after losing control of transfers and is set to be replaced by the German coach Matthias Jaissle, who is in charge of the Saudi Arabian club Al-Ahli.Although the timing of Howe’s abrupt departure following almost five years in charge at St James’ Park is unexpected, his position had been uncertain for some time. He is understood to have told Newcastle’s Saudi Arabian owners he wanted to leave more than a fortnight ago and the parting is said to be “amicable”. Continue reading...
Swansea City have their full squad together for the first time since the end of last season after Cameron Burgess and Eom Jisung returned to the club's Fairwood training base. Australia international defender Burgess and South Korea winger Eom were given extra time off after featuring at this summer's World Cup. Marko Stamenic, who played for New Zealand at the tournament, joined up with Swansea during their pre-season camp in Austria last week alongside new signing and All Whites team-mate Elijah Just.
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