• iconNews
  • videos
  • entertainment
  • Home
  • News
    • UK News
    • US News
    • Australia
    • Ireland
    • World News
    • Weird News
    • Viral News
    • Sport
    • Technology
    • Science
    • True Crime
    • Travel
  • Entertainment
    • Celebrity
    • TV & Film
    • Netflix
    • Music
    • Gaming
    • TikTok
  • LAD Originals
    • Say Maaate to a Mate
    • Daily Ladness
    • Lad Files
    • UOKM8?
    • FreeToBe
    • Extinct
    • Citizen Reef
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube

LAD Entertainment

YouTube

LAD Stories

Submit Your Content
Saudi Arabia declares a national holiday after beating Argentina in its opening World Cup match

Home> Sport

Updated 21:30 22 Nov 2022 GMTPublished 21:26 22 Nov 2022 GMT

Saudi Arabia declares a national holiday after beating Argentina in its opening World Cup match

Everyone in the Middle Eastern country will get Wednesday off after the surprise win.

Rachel Lang

Rachel Lang

Saudi Arabian King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud has given the entire nation a day off after their massive World Cup win against Argentina.

The team was down 1-0 after Lionel Messi scored a penalty just 10 minutes into the match in Qatar.

But, the Saudi Arabian side didn’t let that get them down and managed to pull off what is already being called one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history.

The match finished with the Middle Eastern country up 2-1 against their South American rivals.

Advert

Players of Saudi Arabia celebrates the winning with fans after the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar group C between Argentina and Saudi Arabia at Lusail Stadium.
Px Images/Alamy.

As a result, the King celebrated the incredible win by declaring a holiday for everyone in the nation.

"It is directed that tomorrow, Wednesday, be a holiday for all employees in all sectors of the state and the private sector, and male and female students in all educational stages," a statement from the king said, as per The Athletic.

The win against Argentina places Saudi Arabia top of Group C for now.

Fans took to the streets after the game to celebrate in a very iconic way.

Advert

In footage shared on social media, fans were seen jumping up and down wildly celebrating and they didn't stop there.

In another clip, some fans were seen sitting atop a giant horse, much like the Trojans heading into Troy.

Thousands of Saudis crossed the border to witness the clash against Argentina at Lusail Stadium.

With a Trojan Horse, no less.

Twitter
Saudi Arabia's coach Herve Renard, who was hired in 2019 to lead the qualification bid for Qatar, told reporters (via Reuters): "We made history for Saudi football, it will stay forever.

Advert

"That is the most important thing. But we have to look forward - we have two difficult games for us ahead."

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is intent on making the Middle Eastern country a sporting superpower, also received a shoutout from the coach.

"When I decided to coach this team three years ago I found all the support. We have a great federation president and also the Ministry of Sports," he said.

"When we met with the prince [Mohammed bin Salman], he did not put any pressure on us, and this is wonderful."

He added that the team will now buckle down to focus on their next match.

Lionel Messi of Argentinia wins a defensive header against Sultan Alghannam of Saudi Arabia.
BSR Agency / Alamy

Advert

"You know the nature of the Saudi player, when will be flying, but we must keep our feet on the ground," Renard said.

The loss saw Argentina’s chances of winning the World Cup drop to just 8.6 percent, having sat at 12.6 percent prior to the tournament kicking off.

Fans may also be keen to know that Argentina had been favourites to top Group C - on 65.8 percent - but that’s since dropped to 27.3 percent.

Saudi Arabia now has a 46.2 percent chance of making it to the final 16 after their huge win.

Featured Image Credit: Abaca Press / Alamy. ZUMA Press / Alamy.

Topics: World Cup, Football, Sport, World News

Rachel Lang
Rachel Lang

Rachel Lang is a Digital Journalist at LADbible. During her career, she has interviewed Aussie PM Malcolm Turnbull in the lead up to the 2016 federal election, ran an editorial campaign on the war in Yemen, and reported on homelessness in the lead-up to Harry and Meghan’s wedding in Windsor. She also once wrote a yarn on the cheese and wine version of Fyre Festival.

X

@rlangjournalist

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

8 hours ago
16 hours ago
4 days ago
  • 8 hours ago

    Warning to anyone watching Usyk vs Dubois illegally via IPTV or firesticks

    A cyber security expert as warned anyone streaming the Usyk vs Dubois boxing match could be impacting their online safety

    News
  • 16 hours ago

    Daredevil Felix Baumgartner's chilling final Instagram post before horror paragliding crash

    The Austrian sadly died yesterday

    News
  • 4 days ago

    Spanish government demand investigation into footballer Lamine Yamal's birthday party after 'dwarves exploited'

    The Barcelona footballer celebrated his 18th with a lavish party but was criticised for his antics

    News
  • 4 days ago

    Matthew McConaughey praised for his gesture to Prince William and Kate Middleton at Wimbledon

    Prince William and Kate Middleton watched on as Jannik Sinner took home the Wimbledon men’s trophy

    News
  • Donald Trump spotted pocketing Club World Cup winners medal on stage during final
  • Cole Palmer has hilarious response as Donald Trump bizarrely gatecrashes Chelsea's Club World Cup trophy lift
  • Fans think Argentina deliberately lost to Saudi Arabia at the World Cup
  • Alcohol has been completely banned for 2034 World Cup