Saudi Arabia’s head coach Hervé Renard has named a wide-ranging squad for the March FIFA international window, calling up approximately 50 players to a ten-day preparatory camp in Doha as the Green Falcons intensify their countdown to the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America.
Two Squads, One Mission
Renard will divide the players into two distinct groups during the Doha camp. The senior “A” squad, composed of the core first-team players, will contest friendlies against Egypt and Serbia — two opponents specifically chosen to test the Green Falcons against physically and tactically different sides ahead of the tournament. The second group, overseen by Under-23 coach Luigi Di Biagio, will give an emerging pool of domestic talent the opportunity to stake a claim for inclusion in the final World Cup squad.
Speaking to the national team’s official media channel, Renard confirmed that Khalid Al Ghannam — the Al Ettifaq winger who has been among the Saudi Pro League’s standout performers this season with nine league goals — will return to the national team setup after a period of absence. The Frenchman was characteristically clear about his expectations for the broader callup: “I’m sure they are waiting for it and they have to show us something.”
Group H and a Formidable Draw
Saudi Arabia have been drawn in Group H for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, facing a demanding slate of opponents. The Green Falcons open their campaign against two-time winners Uruguay on June 15 at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, before going on to face FIFA world No.1-ranked Spain and tournament debutants Cape Verde.
This marks Saudi Arabia’s seventh FIFA World Cup appearance and third consecutive qualification — a record that speaks to the sustained growth of Saudi football over the past decade. The three consecutive qualifications span the 2018 tournament, the 2022 edition in Qatar — where Saudi Arabia produced one of the competition’s most celebrated upsets against eventual champions Argentina — and now the North American showpiece.
Building Toward North America
The March camp in Doha represents Phase 3 of Renard’s structured preparation program for the World Cup. With the tournament set to open in June, the squad has a focused but meaningful window to refine the tactical system, integrate new candidates, and sharpen the physical conditioning that modern international competition demands.
The camp also arrives as the Roshn Saudi League season approaches its decisive final weeks, giving Renard live form data on which to base his final selections. The broad 50-player callup sends a clear message to domestic footballers: consistent club-level performance remains the most direct route onto the plane to North America.
