Saud Abdul Hamid: Our goal is to advance beyond the group stage in the 2026 World Cup
Saud Abdulhamid , the star defender of the Saudi national team and Al-Hilal club, affirmed that the determination and fighting spirit displayed by the "Green Falcons" in the 2022 World Cup will be their weapon to achieve their goal of advancing beyond the group stage in the 2026 World Cup. In an exclusive interview with FIFA.com, Abdulhamid reminisced about the historic victory over Argentina and revealed the ambitions of the current generation of the Saudi national team, which is armed with experience and the significant development witnessed in the Roshan Professional League.
Unforgettable memories: The epic victory over the world champion
It's impossible to discuss Saudi football's ambitions without recalling that pivotal moment on November 22, 2022, when the Saudi national team stunned the world by defeating Argentina, the eventual champions. Saud Abdulhamid describes the feeling as "indescribable," adding, "Argentina is a very strong team, and beating the world champions gives you an incredibly special feeling. It was a great achievement, a moment of pride that will never be forgotten.".
Abdulhamid recalled the atmosphere in the dressing room at halftime and the famous clip of former coach Hervé Renard that went viral. “I remember everything. The situation was complicated after they had a goal disallowed for offside. The coach was furious and motivated us intensely, urging us to play with heart and return to our style. His words were powerful, and we managed to secure the victory thanks to them.” Regarding Salem Al-Dawsari’s decisive goal, he said, “When Salem scored the second goal, I felt like the whole world was behind us. Our joy was unbridled, and it gave us tremendous confidence until the final whistle.”.
The development of the national team and the impact of the Stars League
Since the 2022 World Cup, Saudi football has witnessed a qualitative leap, especially with the Roshan League attracting international stars, which Abdul Hamid believes has positively impacted local players. “A lot has changed. The Saudi League has developed remarkably, and the players have developed with it. Personally, I’ve learned a lot about professionalism, discipline, and focus on the field. One mistake can cost you dearly, so you have to maintain your focus for the full ninety minutes.” He added that the presence of foreign players of this caliber raises the level of competition and helps Saudi players gain invaluable experience, which directly benefits the national team.
2026 World Cup ambitions: Saud Abdul Hamid sets the goal
The Saudi national team is now looking forward to its seventh appearance in the World Cup finals, and its third consecutive appearance. Despite recognizing the difficulty of the competition on the global stage, Abdulhamid has set a clear goal for the upcoming tournament. “Our ambition is to go as far as possible. Our primary objective is to advance beyond the group stage. We will certainly be competing in a tough group, but we aspire to achieve this goal, and I hope we can.” He concluded by emphasizing that the current team’s greatest strengths lie in “determination, team spirit, and the confidence the coach and fans have in us,” factors upon which the Green Falcons are relying to achieve a new milestone in North America in 2026.
