Saudi World Cup team lands safely in Rostov after apparent bird hit

Saudi Arabia's national soccer team arrived safely in the Russian city of Rostov-on-Don for their match with Uruguay on Wednesday, the Saudi Football Federation said in a statement published by Saudi Press Agency.

"The members of the mission are currently at their residence in the accommodation allocated to them, and that the reported fire is only an incident," it added.

The plane was forced to make an emergency landing after suffering a "technical failure."

Meanwhile, Russia’s Rossiya airline, which was carrying the Saudi team, said that the cause of a malfunction with the airplane was likely a bird in the engine.

Saudi Arabia faces Uruguay on Wednesday at the Rostov Arena before finishing the group stages with a clash against Egypt next Monday in Volgograd.