The Saudi national team calls up Lajami as a replacement for the injured Timbuktu player
Saudi national team continues preparations for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers
In its relentless pursuit of a place in the global football tournament, the Saudi Arabian national football team continued its intensive training in Jeddah on Monday evening. These preparations are part of the training camp, which represents the third phase of the comprehensive preparation program for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, coinciding with the FIFA international match window in March. This phase is of paramount importance, as the Green Falcons aim to enhance player cohesion and implement the coaching staff's tactical plans in preparation for upcoming competitions.
Details of the training session led by Hervé Renard
The Saudi national team players held their training session at the King Abdullah Sports City (The Shining Jewel) auxiliary stadium in Jeddah, under the direct supervision of veteran French coach Hervé Renard. The session began with traditional warm-up exercises to improve fitness levels, followed by intensive drills focused on ball possession and high pressing. The coaching staff then moved on to purely tactical aspects, before concluding the session with small-sided games across various areas of the pitch, designed to assess the players' reaction speed and passing accuracy under pressure.
List changes: Lajami called up, Timbuktu injured
Regarding changes to the squad, the training camp witnessed significant developments. The coaching staff decided to call up the solid defender Ali Lajami to join the first team's training sessions, coming from the reserve team's (Team B) camp. This strategic call-up comes to compensate for the significant absence of Hassan Al-Tambakti, who continued his treatment and rehabilitation program with the national team's medical staff following his recent injury. In related news, left-back Zakaria Hawsawi was unable to complete the training session after experiencing sudden pain in his knee joint, necessitating his departure as a precautionary measure for a thorough medical assessment.
Historical context and importance of the current stage for Al-Akhdar
The Saudi national team boasts a rich footballing legacy at both the regional and international levels, having participated in the FIFA World Cup finals six times throughout its history. The most recent appearance was in the exceptional 2022 edition in Qatar, where they achieved a historic victory over Argentina (the eventual champions) under the guidance of coach Hervé Renard. The current training camp is crucial as it lays the foundation for building a generation capable of competing strongly in the Asian qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The presence of a reserve squad reflects the Saudi Arabian Football Federation's profound strategic vision to create depth within the team and ensure the readiness of substitutes at any time, as demonstrated by the swift call-up of Lajami.
Next steps and media coverage
The Saudi national football team is scheduled to continue its preparation program tomorrow evening, Tuesday, with another training session at the King Abdullah Sports City auxiliary stadium at 7:00 PM Mecca time. In the interest of transparency and communication with the fans, the team management announced that the first 15 minutes of this training session will be open to various media outlets, allowing sports journalists to observe the team's latest preparations and provide a clear picture to the Saudi sports community, which supports its national team.
