SAUDI ARABIA

Saudi Arabia is a seven-time World Cup participant with a best result of the 1994 round of 16. At the 2026 World Cup, Saudi Arabia plays in Group H against Uruguay, Spain, and Cape Verde. The coaching position changed three times in this cycle: Roberto Mancini left in October 2024; Hervé Renard returned, then was dismissed two months before kickoff; in April 2026, Georgios Donis (a Greek) took the role. The leaders: Salem Al-Dawsari, Saleh Al-Shehri, Mohammed Al-Shanqeeti.

The team's biggest story is the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. In the group opener against reigning champion Argentina, Saudi Arabia came back from 0:1 to 2:1 in five second-half minutes — goals from Saleh Al-Shehri and Salem Al-Dawsari. A victory over the team that would win the World Cup three weeks later. Coach Hervé Renard at that tournament — never to reach the round of 16 again (losses to Poland and Mexico). At the 1994 World Cup in the USA the team reached the round of 16 — its best result before Qatar. Saeed Al-Owairan's goal against Belgium (1:0, a run from the halfway line) is still in the textbooks.

Qualifying was dramatic. Mancini was sacked after a weak first phase; Renard returned the team to track, but a fresh change a year and a half before the tournament left Donis — the fourth coach of the cycle — to assemble a squad in two months. In Group H the main rivals are Spain and Uruguay (both group favorites). Matches are in Miami, Atlanta, and Houston. The chance of a round of 16 is minimal.

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