In a move reflecting the Saudi Arabian Football Federation's early strategic planning, the assistant coaching staff of the Saudi national team continued its intensive program of field visits to local clubs. These visits are part of a comprehensive plan aimed at ensuring the "Green Falcons" are in peak condition before the 2026 World Cup, with the latest round including visits to Al-Fayha, Al-Hazm, and Al-Kholoud clubs.
During these visits, the coaching staff ensured a thorough and direct understanding of all details concerning the players nominated to represent the national team. The visits included individual and group meetings with the players, during which the importance of the current phase, which demands a high level of discipline, was emphasized. Discussions also focused on the necessity of adhering to technical and physical instructions, strictly following approved health and nutrition programs, and conducting a comprehensive review of each player's vital signs and physical statistics to ensure they remain at their peak performance.
These moves are particularly significant given the historical context of the Saudi national team's participation in the World Cup. Following their historic performance in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and their epic victory over Argentina, Saudi ambitions have soared to unprecedented levels. The national team's management is keen to capitalize on the remarkable development of the Saudi Professional League, which now boasts a roster of world-class players. This positively impacts the experience of local players and their technical and physical development, requiring close monitoring to ensure that the efforts exerted by clubs align with the national team's requirements.
The visits were not limited to oversight; they also included monitoring technical and medical aspects, and discussing mechanisms for joint and sustainable coordination with the technical staff of the three clubs. This mechanism aims to create an integrated environment that ensures local training programs are aligned with international commitments, thus reducing the risk of injuries and fatigue, and promoting proper recovery for international players.
This strategy is expected to have a significant positive impact on the stability of the national team's core players, especially with the new 2026 World Cup format featuring 48 teams, which means an increased number of matches and a greater diversity of competing football styles. Therefore, early preparation is not a luxury but an urgent necessity to ensure a respectable showing befitting the stature of Saudi football in Asia and globally.
In a related development, the assistant coaching staff is scheduled to continue its program of visits and meetings in the coming period, extending it to other clubs, including Al-Shabab, Al-Riyadh, Al-Fateh, Al-Akhdoud, and Damac. These successive steps underscore the comprehensiveness of the technical vision, which leaves no club with talented players capable of contributing to the national team out of the equation. This is all part of a holistic plan aimed at preparing players mentally and physically for the world's biggest football event.
