Saudi Arabia, Tunisia Leave World Cup

Saleh Al-Shehri (C) of Saudi Arabia in action against Jorge Sanchez (R) of Mexico during the FIFA World Cup 2022 group C soccer match between Saudi Arabia and Mexico at Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar, 30 November 2022. EPA/Abedin Taherkenareh
Saleh Al-Shehri (C) of Saudi Arabia in action against Jorge Sanchez (R) of Mexico during the FIFA World Cup 2022 group C soccer match between Saudi Arabia and Mexico at Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar, 30 November 2022. EPA/Abedin Taherkenareh
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Saudi Arabia, Tunisia Leave World Cup

Saleh Al-Shehri (C) of Saudi Arabia in action against Jorge Sanchez (R) of Mexico during the FIFA World Cup 2022 group C soccer match between Saudi Arabia and Mexico at Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar, 30 November 2022. EPA/Abedin Taherkenareh
Saleh Al-Shehri (C) of Saudi Arabia in action against Jorge Sanchez (R) of Mexico during the FIFA World Cup 2022 group C soccer match between Saudi Arabia and Mexico at Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar, 30 November 2022. EPA/Abedin Taherkenareh

Saudi Arabia’s Salem Aldawsari scored on Wednesday in second-half stoppage time against Mexico. But Saudi Arabia was eliminated along with Mexico despite beating Argentina in its opening match.

Mexico beat Saudi Arabia 2-1.

Saudi Arabia had one of the tournament’s biggest ever upsets ever when it beat Argentina 2-1. But the Green Falcons couldn’t pull off another surprise in its second match, a 2-0 loss to Poland.

“Tonight it was difficult to breathe with the intensity Mexico put into the match," Saudi Arabia coach Herve Renard said Wednesday.

Also Wednesday, Tunisia stunned France when captain Wahbi Khazri stretched to poke the ball past French goalkeeper Steve Mandanda in the 58th minute at the Education City Stadium.

A second-string France side -- already virtually assured of top spot -- suffered a 1-0 loss to Tunisia.

The north Africans' supporters counted down the final seconds to a famous victory over France that eased the pain of elimination.

"They still had top-class players out there but we were superb and I think the result is down to us," Tunisia goalscorer Khazri said.

"Unfortunately in football it is better not to have to rely on others for results, but we can go out with our heads held high."



Piastri Can Take Charge of Formula 1 Title Race from Pole Position in Bahrain

McLaren driver Oscar Piastri of Australia in action during the Qualifying for the Formula One Bahrain Grand Prix in Sakhir, Bahrain, 12 April 2025. EPA/ALI HAIDER
McLaren driver Oscar Piastri of Australia in action during the Qualifying for the Formula One Bahrain Grand Prix in Sakhir, Bahrain, 12 April 2025. EPA/ALI HAIDER
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Piastri Can Take Charge of Formula 1 Title Race from Pole Position in Bahrain

McLaren driver Oscar Piastri of Australia in action during the Qualifying for the Formula One Bahrain Grand Prix in Sakhir, Bahrain, 12 April 2025. EPA/ALI HAIDER
McLaren driver Oscar Piastri of Australia in action during the Qualifying for the Formula One Bahrain Grand Prix in Sakhir, Bahrain, 12 April 2025. EPA/ALI HAIDER

Oscar Piastri can seize the initiative in the Formula 1 title race as he starts on pole position for the Bahrain Grand Prix on Sunday with his teammate Lando Norris and champion Max Verstappen both further down the grid.
Piastri held off an unexpected challenge from Mercedes driver George Russell to take pole in qualifying Saturday in a sign McLaren is still the F1 team to beat in 2025, The Associated Press reported.
A team mix up cost Russell and Mercedes teammate Kimi Antonelli each one spot on the grid after penalties were imposed after the qualifying session.
Russell will start from the second row and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc was promoted from third to start from the front row alongside Piastri when the race starts at 1500 GMT. Antonelli finished fourth in qualifying but will start from fifth spot.
Norris, the standings leader, could only manage sixth and said he had “no idea” what to fix.
His overnight plan? “Go to sleep” and hope things are different for the race.
Verstappen, who is one point behind Norris and won in Japan last week, starts seventh after problems with his brakes and a lack of grip. “We're not sure what to expect at the moment,” he said after qualifying.
Also in the mix are Leclerc and 18-year-old Kimi Antonelli, who last week became the youngest ever driver to lead a lap in an F1 Grand Prix race.
There's pressure on seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton, who starts ninth in a season of ups and downs since he joined Ferrari. Verstappen's new Red Bull teammate Yuki Tsunoda is 10th and is aiming to be the first driver for the team other than Verstappen to score a point since November.