Mendesh will be absent from the Saudi national team's lineup against Serbia in preparation for the World Cup

Saudi national team preparations for the match against Serbia

The Saudi Arabian national football team, known as "Al-Akhdar" (The Green), concludes its intensive preparations this evening, Monday, for a highly anticipated friendly match against Serbia. The match will take place tomorrow, Tuesday, at the TSC Stadium in Bačka Topola, Serbia. This important encounter is part of the national team's training camp during the international break, also known as FIFA Days, in March, which falls under the third phase of its comprehensive preparation program for qualifying for and participating in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Details of the training session and Sultan Mandash's absence

In their final training session, the Saudi national team players trained at the training center of the renowned Serbian club Partizan Belgrade. The session was overseen by veteran French coach Hervé Renard. It began with intensive fitness drills to improve the players' physical condition, followed by tactical exercises focused on ball possession and attacking play. The session concluded with a serious scrimmage on half the pitch to practice the tactical plays they intend to implement in the upcoming match.

Regarding player readiness, defender Abdulilah Al-Amri participated in parts of the training session with his teammates, giving positive indications that he could be available for selection. Meanwhile, Sultan Mandash's absence from the starting lineup and the match was confirmed. He will instead undergo a special treatment and rehabilitation program with the national team's medical staff to ensure his full recovery before returning to participate in upcoming matches.

The strategic and historical importance of the preparatory camp

This friendly match against a strong European team like Serbia is of paramount importance to the Saudi national team. Historically, Saudi football has demonstrated remarkable development under the guidance of coach Hervé Renard, who led the team to a historic achievement at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar with a resounding victory over eventual champions Argentina. This progress reflects the strategic vision of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation to enhance international exposure, which positively impacts the team's overall performance both regionally and internationally.

Early preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, to be hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico in its expanded format featuring 48 teams for the first time, require diligent work and long-term planning. FIFA international match days offer a golden opportunity for coaching staff to experiment with new tactical approaches, assess player performance, and integrate young talent with experienced players, thus contributing to building a generation of footballers capable of competing strongly on the world stage and representing Arab and Asian football to the best of their abilities.

In conclusion, the Saudi fans are eagerly awaiting the national team's performance in this friendly match, hoping that "Al-Akhdar" will gain maximum technical and physical benefit from this European camp, and that it will continue its upward trajectory towards achieving the desired goals and bringing joy to football fans in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.