The Saudi national football team has entered the final preparation phase for the 2026 FIFA World Cup under new head coach Georgios Donis, who was appointed on 24 April 2026. His contract runs through July 2027.
Donis took over the role after the Saudi Arabian Football Federation ended the tenure of Hervé Renard. The Greek coach is well known to Saudi football fans, having previously managed several domestic clubs including Al Hilal, Al Wehda, Al Fateh, and Al Khaleej.
The 26-player squad named for the tournament is led by captain Salem Al-Dawsari, alongside defender Saud Abdulhamid. The group was drawn primarily from local Saudi clubs, with Abdulhamid currently playing his football in France.
A tough group awaits
Saudi Arabia has been drawn in Group H, where the team will face Spain, Uruguay, and Cape Verde. The draw places the national side against two of international football's established powers, promising demanding matches as the campaign gets under way.
For fans across the Kingdom and the wider community, the appointment marks a fresh chapter heading into one of football's biggest stages. With a squad built mainly around home-grown talent and an experienced coach familiar with Saudi football, attention now turns to how the team shapes up in its remaining preparations before the tournament.
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