Saudi Arabia are at their seventh World Cup and arrive in turmoil after sacking Hervé Renard in mid-April following heavy friendly defeats to Egypt and Serbia. Greek coach Georgios Donis takes the side into Group H against Uruguay, Spain and tournament debutants Cape Verde, with 2022 Argentina-conqueror Salem Al-Dawsari again leading the line as captain.
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Saudi Arabia are in Group H at World Cup 2026 alongside Uruguay, Spain and Cape Verde. The Hard Rock Stadium opener against Uruguay on 15 June is a tough start; the Spain fixture in Atlanta six days later is the toughest in the group on paper. The Cape Verde closer in Houston shapes as the qualification swing — the kind of game Saudi Arabia must control under new boss Georgios Donis.
| Date | Match | Venue | Kick-off (UK) | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 Jun 2026 | Saudi Arabia vs Uruguay | Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens | 23:00 BST | — |
| 21 Jun 2026 | Spain vs Saudi Arabia | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta | 17:00 BST | — |
| 26 Jun 2026 | Cape Verde vs Saudi Arabia | NRG Stadium, Houston | 01:00 BST (27 Jun) | — |
The squad below reflects the March 2026 friendly camp under outgoing manager Hervé Renard, before Donis took over on 23 April. The familiar core remains — Salem Al-Dawsari, Firas Al-Buraikan and Mohamed Kanno — backed by Saud Abdulhamid’s continued progress at Roma. Final 26-man tournament squad to be confirmed in late May 2026 and may reflect Donis’s first-team preferences.
| No. | Player | Club | Age |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nawaf Al-Aqidi | Al-Nassr | 25 |
| 22 | Mohammed Al-Owais | Al-Hilal | 34 |
| 12 | Ahmed Al-Kassar | Al-Raed | 28 |
| No. | Player | Club | Age |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Saud Abdulhamid | Roma | 26 |
| 5 | Hassan Al-Tambakti | Al-Shabab | 27 |
| 4 | Ali Al-Bulayhi | Al Hilal | 36 |
| 13 | Yasser Al-Shahrani | Al Hilal | 33 |
| 3 | Abdulelah Al-Amri | Al-Nassr | 28 |
| 6 | Mohammed Al-Breik | Al Hilal | 33 |
| 23 | Riyadh Sharahili | Al-Khaleej | 27 |
| 14 | Sultan Al-Ghannam | Al-Nassr | 31 |
| No. | Player | Club | Age |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | Mohamed Kanno | Al Hilal | 31 |
| 17 | Nasser Al-Dawsari | Al Hilal | 27 |
| 15 | Abdulellah Al-Malki | Al Hilal | 31 |
| 16 | Sami Al-Najei | Al-Nassr | 27 |
| 21 | Ali Al-Hassan | Al-Nassr | 25 |
| 18 | Musab Al-Juwayr | Al Hilal | 21 |
| 24 | Saleh Abu Al Shamat | Al-Nassr | 27 |
| No. | Player | Club | Age |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | Salem Al-Dawsari (c) | Al Hilal | 34 |
| 9 | Firas Al-Buraikan | Al Ahli | 26 |
| 11 | Saleh Al-Shehri | Al Ahli | 32 |
| 7 | Abdulrahman Ghareeb | Al Ahli | 28 |
| 19 | Abdullah Radif | Al-Hazem | 22 |
| 20 | Abdullah Al-Hamdan | Al Shabab | 26 |
| 25 | Marwan Al-Sahafi | Al Ittihad | 23 |
Donis only took charge in late April so the predicted XI assumes the Renard 4-3-3 base remains: Kanno screening the back four, Nasser Al-Dawsari and Al-Malki shuttling, the front three given license to swap. Salem Al-Dawsari starts on the left as the system’s chief creator and finisher; Firas Al-Buraikan leads the line. Against Spain expect a deeper mid-block and counter-attacks through Salem’s combinations.
The defining strength is front-three creativity and Asian Champions League experience. Salem Al-Dawsari, Firas Al-Buraikan and Abdulrahman Ghareeb have all played continental knockout football for the Saudi Pro League’s heavyweights — Al Hilal and Al Ahli. Al-Buraikan’s brace against Indonesia in October 2025 was the qualifying-decider; he is the side’s most reliable striker and a name worth tracking through tournament markets.
The weakness is manager bedding-in time and recent friendly form. Donis took charge with two months until kick-off after Renard was sacked following a 4-0 friendly loss to Egypt and a 2-1 loss to Serbia in late March. The Saudi squad has fewer than four senior gatherings under the new boss before the Uruguay opener — limited time to install a fresh tactical pattern against an experienced South American side.
Predicted starting XI — 4-3-3. Captain: Salem Al-Dawsari.
Donis took the Saudi Arabia job on 23 April 2026 after Hervé Renard was sacked six days earlier following heavy March friendly defeats to Egypt (4-0) and Serbia (2-1). The 56-year-old former Greece international striker has previously coached AEK Athens, Panathinaikos and OFI Crete in his homeland, and most recently Saudi Pro League side Al Khaleej, who he joined in 2024. The Saudi Football Federation contract runs through to July 2027, but his immediate brief is clear: get a result in Miami.
Al-Dawsari captains Saudi Arabia from the left wing and is the most decorated player in the squad — Asian Champions League winner with Al Hilal and the man who scored the most famous goal in Saudi Arabian football history. The 34-year-old’s 2-1 winner against Argentina at the 2022 World Cup remains a national reference point; he is the system’s chief creator, finisher and emotional leader, and the player whose form most directly correlates with Saudi Arabian results.
The man who scored the most famous goal in Saudi Arabian football history — the 2-1 winner against Argentina at the 2022 World Cup. Now 34 and the team’s emotional leader, his cutting inside off the left to find the far corner is the move opponents must shut down first.
The 26-year-old Al Ahli striker who scored the brace that beat Indonesia in October’s qualification-decider. Quick, comfortable receiving on the half-turn and Saudi Arabia’s most reliable goal source — a name worth a hard look in the Golden Boot market at a triple-figure outsider’s price for the Saudi qualification scenarios.
The first Saudi player to play in Serie A and Roma’s right-back since 2024. Athletic, two-footed and the team’s most-improved player over the past 18 months. The likeliest knockout-stage breakout name if Saudi Arabia find a way through.
The Al Hilal box-to-box midfielder (no relation to captain Salem) who replaced the retired Salman Al-Faraj as the central engine of the side. Energy, set-piece deliveries and the connector between Kanno and the front three.
The 31-year-old screen in front of the back four. Multiple Saudi Pro League and Asian Champions League winner with Al Hilal; comfortable on the ball and the metronome between Saudi Arabia’s defence and attack.
Saudi Arabia advanced through the AFC fourth round in October 2025 — drawn into Group B with Iraq and Indonesia, the side beat Indonesia 3-2 on 8 October in Jeddah and then drew 0-0 with Iraq six days later to win the group on goal difference. The result confirmed the country’s seventh World Cup appearance, and the seventh of the past eight tournaments.
The standout result was the 3-2 win over Indonesia. Down to 10 men with a goal already conceded, Saudi Arabia rallied through Saleh Abu Al Shamat’s strike from outside the box and a Firas Al-Buraikan brace — the comeback that effectively decided the qualifying group and gave Renard the seventh World Cup berth of his career as a head coach. The 0-0 draw with Iraq was tense but enough to confirm top spot.
| Played (R4) | 2 |
|---|---|
| Won | 1 |
| Drawn | 1 |
| Lost | 0 |
| Goals for | 3 |
| Goals against | 2 |
| Top scorer (R4) | Firas Al-Buraikan (2 goals) |
Saudi Arabia are the most consistent World Cup presence among Asian nations. Seven appearances since 1994, including five of the past seven tournaments, and one knockout-stage run — the famous 1994 debut where Saeed Al-Owairan’s solo goal against Belgium produced one of the great World Cup moments and took the side into the round of 16. They have not progressed from a group since.
Two moments anchor the timeline. In 1994, Al-Owairan’s wonder goal against Belgium and the resulting 1-0 win in Washington DC sent Saudi Arabia into the last 16 in their tournament debut — they were beaten 3-1 by Sweden in the next round. In 2022, Saleh Al-Shehri equalised Lionel Messi’s penalty before Salem Al-Dawsari curled in the famous winner against Argentina at the Lusail Stadium. Argentina went on to win the tournament; the Saudi government declared the next day a national holiday.
| Year | Host | Finish |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | United States | Round of 16 |
| 1998 | France | Group stage |
| 2002 | South Korea / Japan | Group stage |
| 2006 | Germany | Group stage |
| 2018 | Russia | Group stage |
| 2022 | Qatar | Group stage |
| 2026 | USA / Canada / Mexico | TBD |
Last five senior internationals (most recent first):
The two March defeats were the breaking point: a 4-0 home loss to Egypt followed by a 2-1 reverse to Serbia four days later. Renard departed within a fortnight, replaced by Donis on 23 April. No senior matches scheduled before the Uruguay opener on 15 June — just a Doha-based training camp.
Saudi Arabia are 250/1 with bet365 to win the tournament — long odds reflecting the bookmaker view that even with the 2022 Argentina shock in their lineage, Saudi Arabia are unlikely to repeat the trick at scale. The 11/4 to qualify from Group H is the most realistic market: Spain are heavy group-winner favourites, Uruguay a strong second, and Cape Verde the priced outsider. Full pricing is in the World Cup winner odds hub.
| Market | Best price | Bookmaker |
|---|---|---|
| To win World Cup 2026 | 250/1 | bet365 |
| To win Group H | 25/1 | bet365 |
| To qualify from Group H | 11/4 | bet365 |
| To reach the quarter-final | 25/1 | bet365 |
| To reach the semi-final | 100/1 | bet365 |
| To reach the Final | 250/1 | bet365 |
Odds correct as of 5 May 2026 and subject to change. For the full World Cup 2026 outright market, group winners and golden-boot specials, see our World Cup 2026 betting hub.
Three previous senior meetings, Uruguay leading 3-0-0. The most recent was at the 2018 World Cup group stage in Rostov, a 1-0 Uruguay win via a Luis Suárez goal. They had also met at the 2002 World Cup (3-0 Uruguay) and a 2002 Confederations Cup pre-qualifier. Hard Rock Stadium will be the third World Cup meeting.
Two previous senior meetings, both Spain wins. Spain 3-1 Saudi Arabia in a November 2018 friendly in Riyadh, and Spain 2-1 Saudi Arabia in a 1992 Olympic warm-up. The Mercedes-Benz Stadium fixture on 21 June will be the first competitive meeting.
No senior meetings between the two sides on record. The NRG Stadium fixture on 26 June will be the first.
Odds in this article are correct at the time of writing and are subject to change. Always check the latest prices on the bookmaker’s site before placing a bet.
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Salem Al-Dawsari, the Al Hilal left winger, captains Saudi Arabia at World Cup 2026. He is best known for scoring the famous 2-1 winner against Argentina at the 2022 World Cup.
Greek coach Georgios Donis took over Saudi Arabia on 23 April 2026, replacing Hervé Renard who was sacked on 17 April after heavy friendly defeats to Egypt (4-0) and Serbia (2-1). Donis previously coached AEK Athens, Panathinaikos and Saudi Pro League side Al Khaleej.
Saudi Arabia are in Group H alongside Spain, Uruguay and Cape Verde.
Saudi Arabia open against Uruguay on 15 June 2026 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. Kick-off is 6pm ET — that is 23:00 BST for UK viewers.
Saudi Arabia are 250/1 with bet365 to win the World Cup outright as of 5 May 2026 — among the longer-priced sides in the tournament.
Yes. Saudi Arabia reached the round of 16 at their 1994 World Cup debut in the United States, beating Belgium 1-0 thanks to Saeed Al-Owairan’s famous solo goal before losing 3-1 to Sweden in the next round. They have not progressed from a group since.
22 November 2022 at the Lusail Stadium in Qatar. Saudi Arabia beat Argentina 2-1, with Saleh Al-Shehri equalising Lionel Messi’s penalty and Salem Al-Dawsari curling in the famous winner. It is widely considered the biggest upset in modern World Cup history; Argentina went on to win the tournament regardless.
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