China PR vs Saudi Arabia Preview & Prediction | 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers (AFC) | Group C

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On the back of a 7-0 beating at the hands of Japan, China PR must pick themselves up quickly as things don’t get any easier for them, with Saudi Arabia up next in Group C.

KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: UK – 1:00pm / US ET – 8:00am / US PT – 5:00am

HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – Not televised / US – Not televised

HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – Bet365 & FIFA+ / US – FIFA+

CHINA PR PREVIEW: HOW TO RESPOND FOLLOWING JAPAN THRASHING

China PR were carved open time and time again by Japan and were on the end of a heavy 7-0 defeat. Of their seven goals conceded, five of them came in the second half as heads dropped within the China PR side. It won’t be easy for them to recover quickly from such a setback.

First and foremost, China PR simply must tighten up defensively, otherwise this could be another long 90 minutes for them. With their goal difference having taken a hammering, they cannot afford another loss by a significant margin if they are to keep their World Cup qualification hopes alive.

SAUDI ARABIA PREVIEW: SETBACK EARLY ON FOR SAUDI

Saudi Arabia fans have reason to be really frustrated by their side’s inability to gain three points against Indonesia, with the score finishing 1-1 in Jeddah. A team of Saudi Arabia’s quality should be doing much better at home and the result already leaves them playing catch-up to Japan following their thrashing of China PR.

The temptation may be to change things, but at the same time it would be no surprise to see the same starting line-up for Saudi Arabia with the players given a chance to right the wrongs of their performance vs Indonesia.

CHINA PR TEAM NEWS: LIKELY TO PERSIST WITH TWO UP TOP

PREDICTED XI (4-4-2): Wang Dalei; Yang Zexiang, Jiang Guangtai, Zhu Chenjie, Liu Yang; Xie Wenneng, Li Yuanyi, Jiang Shenglong, Xu Haoyang; Wu Lei, Zhang Yuning

UNAVAILABLE:

QUESTIONABLE:

SAUDI ARABIA TEAM NEWS: GHAREEB COULD REPLACE AL-KHAIBARI

PREDICTED XI (3-4-3): Al Owais; Tambakti, Lajami, Al Bulayhi; Al Ghannam, Kanno, Al-Juwayr, Al Harbi; Ghareeb, Radif, Al Dawsari

UNAVAILABLE:

QUESTIONABLE:

CHINA PR VS SAUDI ARABIA PREDICTION

When taking into account just how much China PR struggled defensively, it’s easy to see that continuing here, especially when considering the quality that Saudi Arabia possess going forward through the likes of Al Dawsari and their motivation to bounce back following their draw with Indonesia. Provided any complacency is left in the dressing room, Saudi Arabia should win comfortably and are well worth backing to do so by at least three clear goals.

CHINA PR VS SAUDI ARABIA TIP: SAUDI ARABIA TO WIN WITH -2 HANDICAP