Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia, the other team in the group, comes to the World Cup in a very different form than the previous one. The Asian powerhouse had stunned eventual champions Argentina in the group stage, with coach Hervé Renard making headlines with his half-time speech.
Renard has been shown the door, and a new coach – Georgios Donis – months before the World Cup and with no international coaching experience, is pushing Saudi Arabia into uncharted territory. However, several players from the 2022 squad remain, with Salem Al-Dawsari expected to control the midfield while Firas Al-Buraikan is likely to lead the attack.
The fact that the Green Falcons have won just twice in their past seven games will also hit their morale as they look to beat the odds to progress beyond the World Cup group stages for the first time since 1994.
However, the Saudis have proven they can go head-to-head against the world’s best at the 2022 Qatar World Cup, and hope to follow a similar script in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
Player to watch out for: Salem Al-Dawsari
When Saudi Arabia humiliated Argentina, it was Salem Al-Dawsari who scored the winner. The two-time AFC Player of the Year remains one of the best players in his side, and with ten goals and assists each for Al Ahli this season, the 34-year-old will look to give his best chance in what could be his last World Cup.
Saudi Arabia World Cup statistics:
FIFA ranking: 61
Appearance: 7
Best finish: Round of 16 (1994)
Matches: 19
Wins: 4
Draws: 2
Losses: 13
Goals for: 14
Goals against: 44
Highest active goalscorer in the squad: Salem Al-Dawsari (25 goals)
Administrator: George Donis
Georgios Donis has taken over from Hervé Renard as manager of Saudi Arabia. | Photo credit: REUTERS
Georgios Donis has taken over from Hervé Renard as manager of Saudi Arabia. | Photo credit: REUTERS
Donis may seem like a new name in international football, but his introduction to Saudi Arabian football began more than a decade ago as head coach of the Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal, with which he won three trophies. He has also worked with Al Wehda (more than two spells), Al Fateh and Al Khaleej.
Nicknamed ‘The Train’ for his pace during his playing days, Donis prefers a free-flowing attacking style via a 4-2-3-1 shape, and is expected to have the same philosophy for Saudi Arabia at the World Cup.
Selection Saudi Arabia:
Goalkeepers: Ahmed Al Kassar, Mohammed Al Owais, Nawaf Al Aqidi, Abdulqudus Attia
Defenders: Saud Abdulhamid, Mohammed Abu Al Shamat, Khalid Al Ghannam, Moteb Al Harbi, Abdulelah Al Amri, Nawaf Boushal, Zakaria Hawsawi, Hassan Kadesh, Ali Lajami, Ali Majrashi, Hassan Tambakti, Jehad Thikri
Midfielders: Nasser Al Dawsari, Alaa Al Hajji, Ziyad Al Johani, Musab Al Juwayr, Abdullah Al Khaibari, Saleh Abu Al Shamat, Mohammed Kanno, Sultan Mandash, Ayman Yahya
Forwards: Feras Al Brikan, Salem Al Dawsari, Abdullah Al Hamdan, Abdullah Al Salem, Saleh Al Shehri
Saudi Arabia predicted XI (4-2-3-1):
Nawaf Al Aqidi — Saud Abdulhamid, Hassan Tambakti, Abdulelah Al Amri, Moteb Al Harbi — Mohammed Kanno, Abdullah Al Khaibari — Sultan Mandash, Musab Al Juwayr, Salem Al Dawsari — Feras Al Brikan
Published on June 9, 2026
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