When Jorge Solari’s Saudi Arabia side arrived in the USA in the summer of 1994 for the FIFA World Cup™, expectations were not especially high given that it was the country’s maiden appearance at the global showpiece.

Against all odds, however, The Green Falcons made history by qualifying for the Round of 16 on their World Cup debut. After losing their opening game to the Netherlands, they recorded their first victory at the finals with a 2-1 defeat of Morocco. They then stunned the footballing world by overcoming Belgium thanks to Saeed al Owairan’s fantastic individual effort, which remains one of the most memorable FIFA World Cup moments.

And although Saudi Arabia took part in four of the next six World Cup editions, their USA 1994 appearance remains the most notable. FIFA.com sat down with Fuad Anwar, the first player to score for Saudi Arabia at the World Cup, and asked him about that historic maiden appearance and why The Green Falcons have been unable to replicate that success in subsequent editions.

Vultr搭建SSR梯子-2021年新手快速科学上网（带BBR加速 ...:

That inevitably led to many calls for a change, as fans feared another downward spiral similar to the one the team suffered after winning three successive continental finals between 2006 and 2010. As a result, then coach Javier Aguirre was sacked with many demanding the appointment of an Egyptian to replace him. The Egyptian Football Federation (EFF) launched a nationwide search for the right candidate – someone with proven leadership skills, a record of winning trophies, and capable of commanding the respect of the players.

One man ticked all these boxes and more, and that was Hossam El Badry. He was handed the Egyptian reins in September 2022 and shortly after had his first official engagements with two qualifying fixtures for the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations. Since then, El Badry has been working hard on his plan for the team over the next couple of years. While football was suspended, he took time to meet with FIFA.com for an exclusive two-part interview encompassing his appointment as Egypt coach, his goals for the team and his opinion on Egypt’s group in the upcoming World Cup qualifiers.

"They all told me I was crazy," says a smiling Erik Hamren as he reflects on the decision to become Iceland coach.

The Icelandic offer was accepted two years ago next month and, at the time, the former Sweden boss could well understand his friends' misgivings. Iceland had enjoyed a glorious few years, becoming the least populace country to qualify for the UEFA EURO and FIFA World Cup™, but had achieved the unthinkable with an ageing golden generation. The only way, it seemed, was down.

But Hamren ignored the warnings, embraced the challenge and has no regrets. While a period of adaptation and a raft of injuries have combined for a predictably bumpy ride, Iceland are in the EURO qualifying play-offs and could yet reach a remarkable third successive major championship.

The COVID-19 outbreak has kept them waiting for their semi-final against Romania but Hamren’s hope is that another famous night in Reykjavik lies in store. In this interview with FIFA.com, he discusses his reasons for taking the job, his experiences of the shutdown and the challenge of shaping a new era in the land of ice and fire.