Story by
Saudi Arabia squad World Cup 2026: Players ready to get campaign underway in USA
- Story by
- Saudi Arabia squad World Cup 2026: Players ready to get campaign underway in USA
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission.
Salem Al-Dawsari celebrates with his team-mates after scoring for Saudi Arabia against Argentina at the 2022 World Cup. | Credit: Getty Images
The Saudi Arabia World Cup 2026 squad has been revealed, as Georgios Donis' men look to build on their Argentina-slaying antics at the previous tournament.
Advertisement
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 — eventually qualifying on goals scored in the fourth round.
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 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, when 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 capturing the signature of Cristiano Ronaldo set off a chain reaction, with many stars from across the world flocking to the Middle Eastern country.
Advertisement
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, however, Marwan Al-Sahafi of Antwerp and Lens defender Saud Abdulhamid were in the squad for the nation's March friendlies.
Mood
Saudi Arabia have qualified for a third straight World Cup and return to the scene of their USA 94 breakthrough. The Green Falcons haven't gone beyond the group stage in five attempts since that Saeed Al Owairan-inspired debut but hopes are high 32 years on.
Advertisement
At Qatar 2022 they produced their best single result as the only team to beat eventual champions Argentina, a 2-1 come-from-behind win masterminded by Herve Renard, back in the dugout after a stint with France Women.
A conveyor belt of top, if aging, talent has lifted the Saudi Pro League standard, providing a largely homegrown Green Falcon cast with greater access to the elite – time to fly.
Squad
Saudi Arabia World Cup 2026 squad: The final selection
-
GK: Mohammed Al-Owais (Al-Ula)
-
GK: Nawaf Al-Aqidi (Al-Nassr)
-
GK: Ahmed Al-Kassar (Al-Qadsiah)
-
DF: Abdulelah Al Amri (Al Nassr)
-
DF: Hassan Tambakti (Al Hilal)
-
DF: Jehad Thikri (Al Qadsiah)
-
DF: Ali Lajami (Al Hilal)
-
DF: Hassan Kadesh (Al Ittihad)
-
DF: Saud Abdulhamid (Lens)
-
DF: Mohammed Abu Al Shamat (Al Qadsiah)
-
DF: Ali Majrashi (Al Ahli)
-
DF: Moteb Al Harbi (Al Hilal)
-
DF: Nawaf Boushal (Al Nassr)
-
DF: Sultan Al-Ghannam (Al Nassr)
-
MF: Mohammed Kanno (Al Hilal)
-
MF: Abdullah Al Khaibari (Al Nassr)
-
MF: Ziyad Al Johani (Al Ahli)
-
MF: Nasser Al Dawsari (Al Hilal)
-
MF: Musab Al Juwayr (Al Qadsiah)
-
MF: Alaa Al Hajji (Neom)
-
MF: Salem Al Dawsari (Al Hilal)
-
MF: Khalid Al Ghannam (Al Ettifaq)
-
MF: Ayman Yahya (Al Nassr)
-
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
-
June 06, 2026: Saudi Arabia 3-0 Puerto Rico , Q@ Stadium, Austin, United States
-
May 31, 2026: Ecuador 2-1 Saudi Arabia, Sports Illustrated Stadium, Harrison, United States
-
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?
Georgios Donis (pictured) has big shoes to fill with the recent departure of Herve Renard | Credit: Getty Images
Georgios Donistook over from French manager Herve Renard, who previously led Saudi Arabia at the World Cup 2022, in April, after the former made a near eighteen month comeback.
Advertisement
The Greek ex-player, who once donned a Blackburn Rovers shirt, possesses over 20 years of experience in his managerial career, leading the likes of AEK Athens and Al-Hilal.
The manager, set to remain with the national team until the summer of 2027, has won silverware in Greece and Saudi Arabia, although, the shadow of a much more accomplished Renard could loom over him in North America.
Star Player
Who is Saudi Arabia's star player?
Salem Al-Dawsari will have to lead by example if Saudi Arabia want to make history in North America. | Credit: Getty Images
Salem Al-Dawsariis 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.
Advertisement
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.
