Saudi Arabia head coach Georgios Donis named a 30-man preliminary squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, predominantly composed of players from the Roshn Saudi League. The selection balances veterans who featured in the 2022 tournament with rising talents, headlined by captain Salem Al Dawsari. Saudi Arabia has a fascinating World Cup squad history, and one of their most distinct characteristics is that in multiple tournaments, such as in 2018, every single player in their 23-man roster played for clubs in their domestic league. Rather than pulling players from teams all over Europe, they almost entirely built their squad from the Saudi Pro League. They are competing in Group H and playing group stage matches against Uruguay, Spain, and Cape Verde.
Saudi Arabia delivered one of the greatest upsets in FIFA World Cup history at the 2022 tournament in Qatar by defeating eventual champions Argentina 2-1 in their opening match. Managed by Hervé Renard, the Green Falcons fought back from a goal down with second-half strikes from Saleh Al-Shehri and Salem Al-Dawsari. Saudi Arabia was drawn into Group C alongside Argentina, Poland, and Mexico. Despite the euphoric start against Argentina, they were unable to secure points in their remaining two matches, finishing last in the group. This year they would aim to create some upsets and maybe deliver a better finish.
Saudi Arabia Preliminary Squad for 2026 FIFA World Cup
Goalkeepers
Ahmed Al Kassar
Mohammed Al Owais
Nawaf Al Aqidi
Abdulqudus Attia
Defenders
Saud Abdulhamid
Mohammed Abu Al Shamat
Khalid Al Ghannam
Moteb Al Harbi
Abdulelah Al Amri
Nawaf Boushal
Zakaria Hawsawi
Hassan Kadesh
Ali Lajami
Ali Majrashi
Hassan Tambakt
Jehad Thikri
Midfielders
Nasser Al Dawsari
Alaa Al Hajji
Ziyad Al Johani
Musab Al Juwayr
Abdullah Al Khaibari
Saleh Abu Al Shamat
Mohammed Kanno
Sultan Mandash
Ayman Yahya
Forwards
Feras Al Brikan
Salem Al Dawsari
Abdullah Al Hamdan
Abdullah Al Salem
Saleh Al Shehri
