The Saudi Arabia World Cup 2026 squad is starting to crystallise.
In qualifying, Saudi Arabia were drawn in a third round group with Australia and Japan, two of the strongest teams in the Asian Football Confederation, and finished third in that group. It meant they needed to play a fourth round of qualifying, but they recorded a draw and a win, and qualified on goals scored.
World Cup 2026 in Canada, Mexico and the United States will represent 32 years since they first qualified for the tournament, which was incidentally in America in 1994 – and though the Saudi Arabians will have one of the lesser-known squads in the tournament, the nation is experiencing a boom in the sport.
World Cup 2022 burst into life after Saudi Arabia beat 2026 favourites Argentina in their opening game of the tournament. Lionel Messi's penalty in the first half appeared to suggest a routine win for Argentina but two goals in the space of five minutes flipped the game on its head and the Green Falcons pulled off one of the all-time World Cup shocks.
Since then, the domestic league has expanded exponentially. Al-Nassr's capturing the signature of Cristiano Ronaldo set off a chain reaction and many stars from across the world flocked to the Middle Eastern country.
The level of the league has increased so significantly that Al-Hilal went unbeaten against Real Madrid and Manchester City at the 2025 Club World Cup.
The squad for the Arab Cup in Qatar didn't feature a single star from outside the Saudi Pro League. Marwan Al-Sahafi of Antwerp and Lens defender Saud Abdulhamid were in the squad for the March friendlies.
Squad
Saudi Arabia World Cup 2026 squad: The March selection
- GK: Mohammed Al-Owais (Al-Ula)
- GK: Nawaf Al-Aqidi (Al-Nassr)
- GK: Ahmed Al-Kassar (Al-Qadsiah)
- GK: Mohammed Al-Rubaie (Al-Hilal)
- DF: Saud Abdulhamid (Lens)
- DF: Abdulelah Al-Amri (Al-Nassr)
- DF: Nawaf Boushal (Al-Nassr)
- DF: Ali Majrashi (Al-Ahli)
- DF: Muteb Al-Mufarrij (Al-Taawoun)
- DF: Rayan Hamed (Al-Ahli)
- DF: Khalifah Al-Dawsari (Neom)
- DF: Mohammed Mahzari (Al-Taawoun)
- MF: Salman Al-Faraj (Neom)
- MF: Mohamed Kanno (Al-Hilal)
- MF: Abdullah Al-Khaibari (Al-Nassr)
- MF: Musab Al-Juwayr (Al-Qadsiah)
- MF: Ayman Yahya (Al-Nassr)
- MF: Marwan Al-Sahafi (Antwerp)
- MF: Turki Al-Ammar (Al-Qadsiah)
- MF: Ziyad Al-Johani (Al-Ahli)
- MF: Naif Masoud (Al-Fateh)
- MF: Khalid Al-Ghannam (Al-Ettifaq)
- MF: Sultan Mandash (Al-Hilal)
- MF: Mohammed Al-Majhad (Al-Ula)
- MF: Murad Hawsawi (Al-Hilal)
- MF: Abdulaziz Al-Aliwa (Al-Kholood)
- MF: Mohammed Al-Yami (Al-Hazem)
- FW: Firas Al-Buraikan (Al-Ahli)
- FW: Saleh Al-Shehri (Al-Ittihad)
- FW: Abdullah Al-Hamdan (Al-Nassr)
Fixtures
- June 15, 2026: Saudi Arabia vs Uruguay, Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, United States
- June 21, 2026: Spain vs Saudi Arabia, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, United States
- June 26, 2026: Cape Verde vs Saudi Arabia, NRG Stadium, Houston, United States
Recent Results
- March 31, 2026: Serbia 2-1 Saudi Arabia, Rajko Mitic Stadium, Belgrade, Serbia
- March 27, 2026: Saudi Arabia 0-4 Egypt, King Abdullah Sports City, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- December 18, 2025: Saudi Arabia 0-0 UAE, Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, Doha, Qatar
- December 15, 2025: Saudi Arabia 0-1 Jordan, Al Thumama Stadium, Doha, Qatar
- December 11, 2025: Palestine 1-2 Saudi Arabia, Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakrah, Qatar
- December 08, 2025: Morocco 1-0 Saudi Arabia, Al Thumama Stadium, Doha, Qatar
- December 05, 2025: Comoros 1-3 Saudi Arabia, Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium, Doha, Qatar
- December 02, 2025: Saudi Arabia 2-1 Oman, Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, Doha, Qatar
- November 18, 2025: Saudi Arabia 0-2 Algeria, Prince Mohamed bin Fahd Stadium, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
- November 14, 2025: Saudi Arabia 1-0 Ivory Coast, Prince Mohamed bin Fahd Stadium, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
- October 14, 2025: Saudi Arabia 0-0 Iraq, King Abdullah Sport City Stadium, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- October 08, 2025: Indonesia 2-3 Saudi Arabia, Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, Jakarta, Indonesia
- September 08, 2025: Czechia 1-1 Saudi Arabia, Eden Arena, Prague, Czech Republic
- September 04, 2025: Saudi Arabia 2-1 North Macedonia, Prince Mohamed bin Fahd Stadium, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
- June 28, 2025: Mexico 2-0 Saudi Arabia, State Farm Stadium, Glendale, United States
- June 22, 2025: Saudi Arabia 1-1 Trinidad and Tobago, Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, United States
- June 19, 2025: Saudi Arabia 0-1 United States, Q2 Stadium, Austin, United States
- June 15, 2025: Haiti 0-1 Saudi Arabia, Snapdragon Stadium, San Diego, United States
- June 10, 2025: Saudi Arabia 1-2 Australia, King Abdullah Sport City Stadium, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- June 05, 2025: Bahrain 0-2 Saudi Arabia, Bahrain National Stadium, Riffa, Bahrain
- May 30, 2025: Saudi Arabia 2-0 Jordan, King Saud University Stadium, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- March 25, 2025: Japan 0-0 Saudi Arabia, Saitama Stadium 2002, Saitama, Japan
- March 20, 2025: Saudi Arabia 1-0 China, Al-Awwal Park, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Manager
Who is Saudi Arabia's manager?
Herve Renard is a veteran of international football management. The Frenchman has taken charge of five different international teams, including Zambia, Ivory Coast, Morocco, Saudi Arabia and the French women's national team.
In 2015 he became the first manager to win the Africa Cup of Nations with two separate teams after he won the tournament with the Ivory Coast, three years after winning it with Zambia.
He is leading Saudi Arabia for a second time at a World Cup, having masterminded their victory against Argentina in the opening game at the last tournament.
Star player
Who is Saudi Arabia's star player?
Salem Al-Dawsari is the current captain of both Saudi Arabia and Al-Hilal, and is a modern day legend for the Saudi Arabian national team.
His strike from the edge of the area that won the game for the Green Falcons against Argentina is etched in history forever, and he'll be hoping for another memorable moment in north America next summer.
Alongside Sami Al-Jaber, he is the top scorer for Saudi Arabia at World Cups, with three goals, two in Qatar, and one in Russia in 2018.
