Saudi Arabia’s Mohammed Mahzari ruled out of Uzbekistan friendly

Mohammed Mahzari has been withdrawn from Saudi Arabia’s training camp in Qatar after medical tests confirmed a hamstring injury.

The decision was announced by the Saudi Arabia national team, with the player due to return to Riyadh on Friday to begin a treatment and rehabilitation programme with his club.

Mahzari’s omission comes during the November international break, with Saudi Arabia preparing for a second friendly in Doha against Uzbekistan on Tuesday, 17 November 2026.

Saudi Arabia head coach Georgios Donis led his side to a 3-2 victory over South Korea at Jassim bin Hamad Stadium on Friday in his first friendly of the current international window.

Marwan Al-Sahafi, the Al-Ittihad winger, put Saudi Arabia ahead in first-half stoppage time.

South Korea equalised two minutes into the second half when Hyun Gyu converted a low cross with a powerful finish that Saudi goalkeeper Mohammed Al-Owais was unable to stop.

Saudi Arabia restored their lead in the 56th minute through Al-Hilal midfielder Mohammed Kanno. He received a pass from Lens full-back Saud Abdulhamid before striking firmly into the net.

The hosts extended their advantage three minutes later. Al-Nassr defender Abdullah Al-Amri headed in a corner delivered by Al-Hilal midfielder Nasser Al-Dawsari in the 59th minute.

South Korea reduced the deficit in the 68th minute when Lee Jae turned another low cross past Al-Owais, but Saudi Arabia held on for the win.

The result was Saudi Arabia’s first victory over South Korea for 21 years. Their previous wins came in 2005, when they beat South Korea 2-0 and 1-0 in home and away matches in qualifying for the 2006 World Cup.

Friday’s meeting was the 19th between the two nations in friendly and competitive football, dating back to their first encounter in 1980.

Before this match, Saudi Arabia had won five of the previous 18 meetings, while South Korea had recorded six victories and seven matches had ended in draws.

Saudi Arabia had also failed to beat South Korea in their previous six matches, with South Korea winning twice and the other four games finishing level.

In friendlies, Friday’s match was the seventh between the sides. South Korea had won two of the previous six, three had ended in draws and Saudi Arabia had won once before.

Saudi Arabia’s most notable victory over South Korea came in the semi-final of the 2000 AFC Asian Cup, when Talal Al-Meshal scored both goals in a 2-1 win.

Their most recent competitive meeting was in the last 16 of the 2023 AFC Asian Cup. The match finished 1-1 after 90 minutes, before South Korea advanced to the quarter-finals on penalties.