The Saudi Arabia U-23 national team squad for the 2026 AFC U-23 Championship, led by coach Biagio
In a move that marks the beginning of the countdown to the highly anticipated continental event, Italian Luigi Di Biagio, the head coach of the Saudi Arabia U-23 national football team, announced the final squad of players who will represent the "Green Falcons" in the 2026 AFC U-23 Championship. This edition is of exceptional importance as it will be held on Saudi soil, with the cities of Riyadh and Jeddah hosting the tournament matches this January, amidst high hopes of maintaining the gains achieved by Saudi football in recent years.
Elite Select List
The Italian coach's selection included 23 players representing the elite rising talents in the Saudi League, and the names were as follows: Hamed Yousef, Turki Baljosh, Muhannad Al-Yahya, Mohammed Abdulrahman, Awad Dahal, Suleiman Hazazi, Mohammed Al-Dossari, Khaled Al-Asiri, Abdulrahman Al-Obaid, Mohammed Barnawi, Salem Al-Najdi, Yassin Al-Zubaidi, Abdulmalik Al-Jaber, Musab Al-Juwair, Fares Al-Ghamdi, Faisal Al-Subiani, Rakan Al-Ghamdi, Hammam Al-Hamami, Abdulaziz Al-Aliwa, Abdulrahman Sufyani, Majed Abdullah, Thamer Al-Khaibri, and Abdullah Radif.
Group A challenges and continental ambition
The Saudi national team begins its campaign in the tournament in Group A, a tough test for the young Green Falcons, which also includes Vietnam, Jordan, and Kyrgyzstan. The Saudi team aims to capitalize on home advantage and the support of its fans to top the group and advance to the knockout stages, especially as Saudi fans have high hopes for this generation of players to become a key source of talent for the senior national team in future World Cup competitions.
Fruitful cooperation to serve the nation
In a related context, the national teams administration commended the positive stance of Saudi clubs, expressing its deep gratitude for their cooperation in allowing their players to join the training camp and participate in the tournament. This appreciation stems from the fact that the tournament is being held outside of official FIFA international match days, meaning that clubs are not legally obligated to release their players. However, a sense of national pride and a shared desire to achieve a new milestone for the Kingdom were the driving forces behind this cooperation, reflecting the integrated nature of the Saudi sports system.
The importance of the tournament and the history of Al-Akhdar
The AFC U-23 Championship is one of the most important continental tournaments for discovering the future stars of Asian football. The Saudi national team boasts a distinguished record in this age group, having previously won the title and delivered impressive performances in past editions. Hosting this edition for the first time in the Kingdom is part of the significant sporting development underway in Saudi Arabia, and underscores its high capacity to organize major sporting events according to the highest international standards. This places positive pressure on the players and coaching staff to perform at a level befitting Saudi football's standing in Asia.
