Saudi Arabia Declares National Holiday Over Argentina’s Defeat
Saudi Arabia‘s King Salman has announced a national holiday in response to the country’s football team’s dramatic World Cup victory over Argentina on Tuesday, according to state media.
According to the Al-Ekhbariya channel on Twitter, the 86-year-old monarch “orders that tomorrow, Wednesday, be a vacation for all employees in the public and private sectors, as well as male and female students at all educational levels.”
The decision was made in the middle of the Gulf nation’s final exams, which means they will need to be postponed.
After giving up an early Lionel Messi penalty, the Saudi Green Falcons recovered to deliver one of the biggest World Cup upsets at the Lusail Stadium in Doha, Qatar, with goals from Saleh Al-Shehri and Salem Al-Dawsari.
After the final whistle, revelers broke out in spontaneous dancing circles throughout the capital Riyadh and waved the national flag with a sword on it from the windows of moving cars.
Al-Ekhbariya published images of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the son of King Salman, enjoying himself after watching the game with Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, the energy minister.
Tuesday admission prices at significant theme parks and entertainment venues in Riyadh would be waived, according to Turki al-Sheikh, a Royal Court advisor and the chairman of Saudi Arabia‘s General Entertainment Authority.
Few could have expected that the 51st-ranked Green Falcons, led by Herve Renard, would defeat the twice-declared world champions and seven-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi and his celebrated team.
The team’s next game is against Poland on Saturday.
