Saudi Arabia vs Mexico Prediction, Odds and Betting Tips – 2022 World Cup: Who Will Win?

💯 Saudi Arabia vs Mexico Betting Odds

There are a number of football betting markets associated with Saudi Arabia vs Mexico, including straight match wagering, backing both sides to score and guessing whether over or under 2.5 goals will be scored in the game.

We’ve listed these in a little more detail below while including the latest, real-time 2022 world cup football odds from our recommended sportsbooks.

🏅 Saudi Arabia vs Mexico Odds: Match Winner

We’ll start with match betting, which is arguably the most popular market among our recommended betting sites. Here’s a glimpse at the latest Saudi Arabia vs Mexico odds!

Saudi Arabia to Win	4.80	4.70	4.70	4.50	4.75	4.50	4.75
Mexico to Win	1.71	1.70	1.65	1.70	1.65	1.65	1.65
Draw	4.20	3.95	3.70	4.00	3.70	3.80	3.80

⚽ Saudi Arabia vs Mexico Odds: Both Teams to Score

Backing both sides to score (or not) is another popular market, and one that is arguably a little easier to gauge with the requisite knowledge of the participating teams. Here are the latest odds in relation to this market.

Yes	1.70	1.70	1.80	1.75	1.70	1.80	1.80
No	1.91	2.05	1.91	1.95	2.05	2.05	2.05

🥅 Saudi Arabia vs Mexico Odds: Over/Under 2.5 Goals

Last, but not least, you can wager on whether you think there will be over or under 2.5 goals scored in the game between Saudi Arabia and Mexico. Here’s the latest odds from our listed sportsbooks!

Over 2.5 Goals	1.80	1.80	1.73	1.75	1.80	1.85	1.85
Under 2.5 Goals	1.90	2.00	1.85	1.95	2.00	1.85	1.85

🏠 Saudi Arabia Football World Cup Preview

The Saudis are one of the lowest ranked sides competing in Qatar, as they’re categorised as the 51st best team in the world by FIFA and only the sixth best in the vast AFC qualifying region.

However, it should be noted that Saudi Arabia qualified relatively well for the World Cup in Qatar, while the nation also managed to stun the world with a 2-1 win over Argentina in their opening Group C clash.

They actually fell behind to Lionel Messi’s penalty at the Lusail Stadium, but quickfire, second half goals by Saleh Al Shehri and Salem Al Dawsari earned the Saudis one of the biggest ever shocks in WC history.

While they were subsequently beaten 2-0 by Poland, they showcased similar levels of intensity and counterattacking endeavour, while they’ll enter their final group stage game knowing that a win over a lacklustre Mexico side will be enough to qualify for the round of 16 (for only the second time in their history).

📰 Latest Team Saudi Arabia World Cup News

✈️ Mexico World Cup Preview

Mexico has the distinction of being the highest-ranked nation in the CONCACAF region, while the side also ranked in 12th place in FIFA’s recent October listings.

This makes the side the second highest ranked competitor in Group C, but it’s fair to say that the Mexicans have been a huge disappointment in the finals so far. In fact, they have just a single point after two matches, so even a win over the Saudis won’t be enough to guarantee a place in the round of 16 for the eighth consecutive year.

Although the side was relatively industrious and the aggressor in the 0-0 stalemate with Poland, they adopted an incredibly defensive outlook and shape in a bid to stifle Argentina last time out.

Not only did this quell any of their own attacking threat, but it also proved fruitless as an inspired Lionel Messi contributed a sublime goal and a crucial assist to fell the Mexicans 2-0.

📰 Latest Mexico World Cup News

🟨 Saudi Arabia vs Mexico: Latest Injury News and Suspensions

The Saudis will be forced into a midfield change for this match after Abdulelah Al-Malki (whose error led to Robert Lewandowski’s crucial goal in the defeat against Poland) picked up his second yellow card during the same game.

Either Nawaf Al-Abed or Riyad Sharahili could deputise, with the latter now back to full training after a previous injury campaign and capable of providing a more defensive presence in the Saudis intend to adopt a cautious approach from the start.

There were some concerns that Al-Dawsari (who needs just one more goal to draw level with Sami Al Jaber as the Saudis’ top scorer) picked up a slight knock against Poland, but manager Hervé Renard has confirmed that he’s fit to start against Mexico.

As for the Mexicans, they also have a midfield concern after veteran Andres Guardado was forced off after 42 minutes of the match against Argentina with a muscle injury.

While it’s unclear whether he’ll be fit to start or not, Ajax’s Edson Alvarez is ready and waiting to be recalled to the team, so we’ll watch this space with interest ahead of the game.

Mexico could also look to revert to a flat-back four as they go in search of goals and the win required to keep their WC hopes alive, while Wolves strike Raul Jiminez is also in contention to start and introduce some cutting edge to an otherwise lacklustre Mexico attack.

🔑 Key Matchups

Like most games at the Qatar 2022 World Cup, the clash between Saudi Arabia and Mexico is likely to be decided by a number of key individual duals.

We’ve outlined three of the most important below while asking how they’re likely to impact the outcome of the match.

Salem Al-Dawsari vs Jorge Sanchez

If Mexico do revert to a back four and the compact 4-3-3 shape they used against Poland, it’s right-back Jorge Sanchez who’ll be tasked with marking the highly talented Saudi winger Al-Dawsari.

The latter, who has 18 goals in 73 international appearances, showcased all of his talent in the 2-1 win over Argentina, he turned in the box and dragged the ball onto his right foot before curling an unstoppable shot into the top corner.

Sanchez will have to be wary of Al-Dawsari’s runs inside and across him, as the latter will look to shift the ball onto his right side and dart into the box at every opportunity.

At the same time, Sanchez will need to showcase ambition of his own and get forward to support his forwards, while doing this will drive Al-Dawsari backwards and limit the Saudi’s attacking threat.

Saleh Al-Shehri vs César Montes

Saleh Al-Shehri was the other goalscorer in the historic win over Argentina, as Al-Hilal striker surged beyond Cristian Romero before firing into the bottom corner to take his international tally to 11 goals in 21 caps.

He has certainly proved a handful with his pace and movement during the tournament. At the same time, his most direct opponent against Mexico is likely to be the imposing César Montes (whether the Mexicans deploy a back four or a back five).

Certainly, Al-Shehri will fancy his chances of getting in behind Montes and dragging him into the channels, while the latter will look to dominate the Saudi striker centrally and get tight enough to stop him from turning into space.

This will definitely be a fascinating and physical battle, with the winner able to lay an excellent foundation from which their side can try to win the game.

Ali Al-Bulaihi vs Raul Jiminez

The 33-year-old Ali Al-Bulaihi has been a solid performer for the Saudis at centre half so far in the tournament, particularly during the late rear-guard action in the win over Argentina.

As we’ve already touched on, however, we expect Raul Jiminez to lead the Mexican line against the Saudis, providing a strong physical presence in attack and a similar threat to the one posed by Robert Lewandowski last time out.

Jiminez is an experienced international striker with a huge pedigree and technical ability, with his record of 29 international goals in 97 caps more than competitive. He’ll also look to win what’s sure to be a fierce physical battle with Al-Bulaihi, in order to provide a focal point and link that enables Mexico to build attacks in the final third.

The aerial battle will be key to this dual, while much will depend on Al-Bulaihi’s ability to step in front of Jiminez and intercept forward balls before he’s able to help build attacks.

⚡ Saudi Arabia vs Mexico– The Head-to-Head Statistics

These sides have never met in the World Cup, while the five matches that they’ve contested in total all took place in a four-and-a-half-year spell between 1995 and 1999.

During this sequence, Mexico won four matches in total, including the team’s first ever clash in the FIFA Confederations Cup in January 1995 (2-0). A 2-1 friendly win followed nine months later in October before Mexico thrashed the Saudis 5-0 in another Confederations Cup iteration in December 1997.

The Saudis avoided defeat for the first time against Mexico in a 0-0 friendly draw in 1998, while July of the following year saw yet another win for the Central American side as they thumped their Middle Eastern rivals 5-1.

Outside of the head-to-head record, it’s interesting to note that Saudi Arabia are looking to seal their first round of 16 appearance at the World Cup for 28 years with a win over Mexico. Conversely, defeat for the Mexicans would consign them to their first group stage exit since 1978, having reached the round of 16 (and no further) for seven consecutive tournaments.

🥇 Saudi Arabia vs Mexico - Who Will Win?

Mexico need a win at the Lusail Stadium to reach the round of 16 at the expense of the Saudis, so they’ll need to revert to their favoured 4-3-3 formation and adopt a far more attacking outlook than they have done during the tournament so far.

Conversely, the Saudis could still qualify with a point here, but beating the Mexicans remains the only surefire way they can guarantee their qualification from Group C and book a place in the knockout stages of the Qatar World Cup.

Regardless, there’s much to play for in this final group stage game, with Mexico seemingly paying the price for failing to be proactive enough during the first two games and leaving record goalscorer Javier Hernandez out of their WC squad.

Ultimately, we reckon they’ll pay the ultimate price against Saudi Arabia, who we’re backing to seal their qualification with a 2-1 win.

Our Saudi Arabia vs Mexico match prediction: Mexico to win.

🔍 Our Saudi Arabia vs Mexico Betting Tips?

While the odds of a Saudi win have shortened throughout the tournament, Mexico remain the bookies’ favourites at an average price of 1.65.

Of course, we don’t believe that this offers much value, but we would consider getting on Saudi Arabia to win at a current price of 4.80 with TonyBet Sports.

Elsewhere, we like the idea of both sides to score, as while neither is particularly prolific, the need for Mexico to win will create an open, cut-and-thrust game that’s likely to see chances at both ends. You can back this outcome at 1.80 with Ladbrokes Sport.

This also means that there’s likely to be over 2.5 goals scored in the game, and you can get on this now at a price of 1.85 with William Hill!

🎁 Saudi Arabia vs Mexico World Cup Free Bets

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✒️ Lewis Humphries - Sports Journalist, Tipster and Betting Expert

This Saudi Arabia vs Mexico 2022WC Prediction was written by Lewis Humphries. Lewis is a business and iGaming copywriter from the UK, who has a passion for sports betting and online casino gaming. He's reviewed some of the world's leading casino platforms, while creating blog posts and landing page content for various sports betting brands.

His content has also featured on a number of different sites, including Life Hack, Investopedia, Yahoo Finance and Business Insider. He also pens regular sports features for sites including 90 Minutes, Think Football Ideas and Sportsblog.