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Why is it that Arab countries are so hilariously bad at soccer?

Posted on 6/21/26 at 11:39 am
Posted by JasonDBlaha
Woodlands, Texas
Member since Apr 2023
5279 posts
Posted on 6/21/26 at 11:39 am
None of the GCC states have ever been remotely competitive against any of the European/South American teams. They get destroyed every time they play one.
Posted by Mike Joyce
Member since Jan 2021
445 posts
Posted on 6/21/26 at 11:41 am to
Saudi beat Argentina in the last World Cup
Posted by The Pirate King
Pangu
Member since May 2014
69715 posts
Posted on 6/21/26 at 11:43 am to
Morocco? Technically in Africa, but they're really good this cycle
Posted by JasonDBlaha
Woodlands, Texas
Member since Apr 2023
5279 posts
Posted on 6/21/26 at 11:43 am to
Didn’t matter because Argentina won it
Posted by Broski
Member since Jun 2011
83264 posts
Posted on 6/21/26 at 11:44 am to
quote:

Didn’t matter because Argentina won it


It matters because you said "every time"
Posted by JasonDBlaha
Woodlands, Texas
Member since Apr 2023
5279 posts
Posted on 6/21/26 at 11:48 am to
quote:

Morocco? Technically in Africa, but they're really good this cycle


Morocco is an Arab country but I was mostly referring to the GCC countries

Kuwait, UAE, Bahrain, KSA, Oman, etc
This post was edited on 6/21/26 at 11:49 am
Posted by BamaCoaster
God's Gulf
Member since Apr 2016
7401 posts
Posted on 6/21/26 at 11:49 am to
quote:

Kuwait, UAE, Bahrain, KSA, Oman,


Add Qatar and Iran and Iraq in there.

Iran has beat us a time or two.
Iraq drew in their first match against somebody who was a surprise (can’t recall who).
Posted by SabiDojo
Open to any suggestions.
Member since Nov 2010
84835 posts
Posted on 6/21/26 at 11:51 am to
They used to all just use a low block and it was so boring to watch. Now I’ve seen them attack more and it’s very entertaining.
Posted by RemouladeSawce
Uranus
Member since Sep 2008
18482 posts
Posted on 6/21/26 at 1:03 pm to
No youth development
Where there is development, scouting is horrifically inefficient or outright impossible
No coaching development
Gulf countries have low populations
Poor or non-existent domestic leagues
Poor overall sporting culture

I felt like wealthier nations like Qatar could fix it with enough money but they’re basically back to square one. Maybe SA will be different but they’re probably still generations away at best from infrastructure that is feeding international stars

As unimpressive as most Arab states might be, you should see the rest of AFC. These guys are at least qualifying
This post was edited on 6/21/26 at 1:17 pm
Posted by The Boat
Member since Oct 2008
178343 posts
Posted on 6/21/26 at 1:05 pm to
Is there a reason why towel heads should be good at soccer. A better question is why are sub-saharan countries so arse at soccer when it’s the only thing they do all day.
Posted by RemouladeSawce
Uranus
Member since Sep 2008
18482 posts
Posted on 6/21/26 at 1:09 pm to
quote:

why are sub-saharan countries so arse at soccer
Colonies send the best to the homeland. This was answered decades ago
Posted by LSUMJ
BR
Member since Sep 2004
20930 posts
Posted on 6/21/26 at 1:21 pm to
Every Qatar player except 1 plays in the Qatar league
Not exactly iron sharpening iron there
Posted by Bigbens42
Trussvegas
Member since Nov 2013
21478 posts
Posted on 6/21/26 at 1:26 pm to
quote:

Every Qatar player except 1 plays in the Qatar league Not exactly iron sharpening iron there


They’ve not been bad. They guested in the gold cup in 21 and 23 and made a nice account of themselves, and they’re the defending Asian Cup champs.

This World Cup has been a tremendous let down though.
Posted by metallica81788
NO
Member since Sep 2008
11350 posts
Posted on 6/21/26 at 1:27 pm to
It's actually impressive the Gulf countries are putting out qualifying, semi-respective teams from a population standpoint

Look at China, India, Pakistan, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia
Billions of people and they can't even sniff qualifying for a WC let alone field a competitive team
This post was edited on 6/21/26 at 1:27 pm
Posted by SabiDojo
Open to any suggestions.
Member since Nov 2010
84835 posts
Posted on 6/21/26 at 2:27 pm to
Iran
Posted by RoyalAir
Detroit
Member since Dec 2012
7795 posts
Posted on 6/21/26 at 7:17 pm to
quote:

Look at China, India, Pakistan, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia
Billions of people and they can't even sniff qualifying for a WC let alone field a competitive team


Exactly. China and India are hilarious in their inability to produce world class soccer programs.

At least China competes in the Olympics. India and Indonesia can't even get that right.
Posted by JerryTheKingBawler
South of Memphis
Member since Jan 2023
9370 posts
Posted on 6/21/26 at 7:40 pm to
quote:

The Boat

No cap. Then they could settle their differences with the soccer instead of machine guns.
Posted by Violent Hip Swivel
Member since Aug 2023
10111 posts
Posted on 6/21/26 at 8:45 pm to
Light brown people who aren't light brown because they've intermingled with other races don't seem to be the best athletes. India has 1.5 billion people and eight gold medals ever.

Posted by Prodigal Son
Member since May 2023
1944 posts
Posted on 6/21/26 at 8:47 pm to
Inbreeding would be my first thought
Posted by lsuson
Metairie
Member since Oct 2013
15636 posts
Posted on 6/21/26 at 9:35 pm to
Qatar is absolute dog shite
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