The final Saudi national team roster for the 2026 World Cup and its preparations
The Saudi Arabian national football team is putting the final touches on its preparations for the highly anticipated 2026 FIFA World Cup. Head coach Giorgos Donis has begun preparing the team both technically and physically for their second and final friendly match during their training camp in the United States. This important match will see the Green Falcons face Puerto Rico next Saturday at 2:00 AM Saudi time at Q2 Stadium in Austin, as part of the final phase of preparations for the global tournament, which kicks off on June 11th and is co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada. This match serves as a final rehearsal to assess the players' readiness and implement tactical plans before the start of the world's premier football event.
Key features of the final squad for the World Cup national team
In conjunction with the on-field preparations, coach Donis finalized his decision by announcing the 26-man squad that will compete in the World Cup, representing the elite of Saudi Arabian football. The squad includes the following players: Mohammed Al-Owais, Nawaf Al-Aqidi, Ahmed Al-Kassar, Abdul-Ilah Al-Amri, Hassan Tambakti, Jihad Zikri, Ali Lajami, Hassan Kadesh, Saud Abdul-Hamid, Mohammed Abu Al-Shamat, Ali Majrashi, Mutaib Al-Harbi, Nawaf Boushal, Mohammed Kanno, Abdullah Al-Khaibari, Ziyad Al-Juhani, Nasser Al-Dawsari, Musab Al-Juwair, Alaa Al-Hajji, Salem Al-Dawsari, Khalid Al-Ghannam, Ayman Yahya, Sultan Mandash, Firas Al-Buraikan, Saleh Al-Shehri, and Abdullah Al-Hamdan.
In contrast, the Greek coach decided to exclude five players from the final squad: Abdullah Al-Salem, Abdulrahman Al-Sanbi, Abdulquddus Attia, Saleh Abu Al-Shamat, and Zakaria Hawsawi. However, in a strategic move, Donis requested that Al-Salem, Al-Sanbi, and Attia remain in the camp to take advantage of the tournament regulations, which allow for the replacement of any player on the final roster up to 24 hours before the team's first match in the event of a serious injury preventing them from participating.
The importance of the Puerto Rico friendly in the Saudi national team's preparations for the 2026 World Cup
The match against Puerto Rico is of paramount importance, far exceeding its status as a mere friendly. It represents coach Donis's final opportunity to assess the players' cohesion and implement the tactical ideas practiced during the Austin training camp. This match also provides a chance to evaluate the physical and technical condition of both the starting players and substitutes, allowing him to determine the most suitable options for official matches. Historically, the Saudi national team has a tradition of rigorous training camps before World Cup appearances, which have played a significant role in achieving remarkable results, most notably the historic victory over Argentina in the 2022 World Cup. This raises the expectations of Saudi fans for the 2026 edition.
Major challenges in the Green Falcons group
The Saudi national team faces a significant challenge at the World Cup finals, having been drawn into the difficult Group H alongside formidable opponents. The Green Falcons will face Spain, the 2010 World Cup champions and perennial favorites, Uruguay, a team with a rich history and two-time World Cup winners, and Cape Verde, a rising force in African football. This formidable challenge demands that coach Donis' squad reach peak physical and mental readiness, a goal he is striving to achieve during this final stage of preparation.
