The Saudi national team's head coach, Greek Giorgos Donis, announced the final squad for the 2026 World Cup, which will compete in the highly anticipated global tournament. The list includes 26 carefully selected players who will represent the "Green Falcons" in this premier football event, with high hopes of achieving a historic performance befitting the tremendous progress Saudi football has witnessed.
The official announcement of the list saw the exclusion of five players who were on the initial list, namely: Abdulrahman Al-Sanbi, Abdulquddus Attia, Saleh Abu Al-Shamat, Zakaria Hawsawi, and Abdullah Al-Salem, after their participation in the preparation stages and recent camps of the national team.
The Green Falcons... A renewed World Cup journey with great ambitions
This marks the seventh appearance of the Saudi national team in the FIFA World Cup finals, a testament to the strong presence of Saudi football on the international stage. The Green Falcons' World Cup journey began in 1994 in the United States, a participation still etched in the memories of fans, as the team achieved a historic feat by reaching the Round of 16 and delivering one of the most beautiful goals of the tournament's history, scored by the legendary Saeed Al-Owairan. Over the years, the Saudi national team continued its presence in the 1998, 2002, 2006, 2018, and 2022 editions, witnessing unforgettable moments, most notably the historic victory over eventual champions Argentina in the 2022 Qatar World Cup. Today, the Green Falcons enter the 2026 edition with high morale, bolstered by a generation of outstanding players and a domestic league that has become a destination for the world's top stars, raising expectations for achieving impressive results.
Donis' decisions spark controversy... The most notable absentees from the Saudi national team's final squad for the 2026 World Cup
Coach Giorgos Donis' decision to exclude the young duo Saleh Abu Shamat and Zakaria Hawsawi has sparked widespread reactions in Saudi sporting circles and among fans. This controversy stems from the impressive performances the two players delivered last season with their respective clubs, leading many observers to expect their inclusion in the final squad as valuable additions to the team. However, these decisions remain the coach's own tactical vision, as he preferred other options he believes are more aligned with his tactical plans and the demands of the challenging matches ahead. Meanwhile, the coaching staff decided to keep Abdullah Al Salem, Abdulrahman Al Sanbi, and Abdulquddus Attia in the national team camp as reserve players, in case of any unforeseen circumstances or injuries before the start of the competition, in accordance with tournament regulations that allow for the replacement of any injured player up to 24 hours before the first match.
The complete squad list for the Saudi national team in the 2026 World Cup
The final Green Falcons squad list included the following names: Mohammed Al-Owais, Nawaf Al-Aqidi, Ahmed Al-Kassar, Abdullah Al-Amri, Hassan Tambakti, Jihad Zikri, Ali Lajami, Hassan Kadash, Saud Abdulhamid, Mohammed Abu Al-Shamat, Ali Majrashi, Mutaib Al-Harbi, Nawaf Boushal, Mohammed Kanoo, Abdullah Al-Khaibri, Ziyad Al-Juhani, Nasser Al-Dawsari, Musab Al-Juwair, Alaa Al-Hajji, Salem Al-Dawsari, Khaled Al-Ghannam, Ayman Yahya, Sultan Mandash, Firas Al-Buraikan, Saleh Al-Shehri, and Abdullah Al-Hamdan.
A fiery group and great challenges await the Falcons
The draw for the 2026 World Cup placed the Saudi national team in the challenging Group H, alongside established and formidable teams like Spain, Uruguay, and Cape Verde. Everyone anticipates high-caliber matches, as the Green Falcons aim to deliver a respectable performance and replicate their impressive showings in previous editions, bolstered by strong fan support and the ambitions of a generation eager to write a new chapter in Saudi football history.
