The Green Falcons’ Return
Saudi Arabia’s 7th World Cup. Inside the Green Falcons’ 2026 campaign: new coach Donis, Salem Al-Dawsari, squad, history and Group H hopes.
Saudi Arabia
The Green Falcons · AFC · Group H
Everything at a glance
- Nickname
- Al-Suqour Al-Akhdar The Green Falcons
- Confederation
- AFC Asia
- FIFA Ranking
- 63rd early 2026 — verify before publishing
- Head Coach
- Georgios Donis Appointed late April 2026 after Hervé Renard sacked — confirm before publishing
- Captain
- Salem Al-Dawsari Al Hilal
- WC Appearances
- 7th Debuted 1994
- Best Finish
- Round of 16 1994
- Group
- Group H with Spain, Uruguay, Cape Verde
The Green Falcons sealed qualification under Hervé Renard by topping their fourth-round group, capped by a goalless draw with Iraq in October 2025.
One of Asia’s most consistent World Cup presences — on their seventh campaign.
Saudi Arabia are one of Asia’s most consistent World Cup presences, qualifying for a seventh finals at the 2026 tournament. Backed by a booming domestic league that has attracted global stars, the Green Falcons sealed qualification under Hervé Renard by topping their fourth-round group, capped by a goalless draw with Iraq in October 2025.
The team is built largely around the Saudi Pro League’s powerhouse clubs — especially Al Hilal — and is led by talisman Salem Al-Dawsari, scorer of the iconic winner against Argentina at the 2022 World Cup.
The team is built largely around the Saudi Pro League’s powerhouse clubs — especially Al Hilal — and is led by talisman Salem Al-Dawsari, scorer of the iconic winner against Argentina at the 2022 World Cup.
Saudi Arabia arrive amid genuine drama.
Renard — the man who masterminded that 2022 shock over the eventual champions — was sacked in April 2026 after heavy friendly defeats, and the federation turned to Saudi-league specialist Georgios Donis just weeks before the tournament. How a brand-new coach galvanises this squad on the biggest stage is a compelling subplot. Off the pitch, Saudi football is at the centre of the global game, making every Green Falcons appearance a talking point.
How a brand-new coach galvanises this squad on the biggest stage is a compelling subplot.
The bar, and the dream
Group H is daunting: favourites Spain, former champions Uruguay, and debutants Cape Verde. Saudi Arabia will eye a result against either of the heavyweights and will fancy themselves to take points off Cape Verde. The coaching upheaval injects uncertainty — a settled side might have targeted the knockouts under the expanded format, but the late change tempers expectations.
The realistic route
A realistic target is to be competitive and chase a third-place qualifying route; anything more would be a triumph given the turbulent build-up.
Donis’s likely 26
Based on recent squads; the new coach may revise selections significantly — verify the final 26 before publishing.
Goalkeepers
3- Ahmed Al Kassar
- Mohammed Al-Owais
- Nawaf Al Aqidi
Defenders
11- Saud Abdulhamid
- Mohammed Abu Al Shamat
- Khalid Al Ghannam
- Moteb Al Harbi
- Abdulelah Al Amri
- Nawaf Boushal
- Hassan Kadesh
- Ali Lajami
- Ali Majrashi
- Hassan Tambakti
- Jehad Thikri
Midfielders
8- Nasser Al Dawsari
- Alaa Al Hajji
- Ziyad Al Johani
- Musab Al Juwayr
- Abdullah Al Khaibari
- Mohammed Kanno
- Sultan Mandash
- Ayman Yahya
Forwards
4- Feras Al Brikan
- Salem Al Dawsari
- Abdullah Al Hamdan
- Saleh Al Shehri
★ Likely starters. Line-up uncertain under new management; confirm individual positions and starters.
The names that decide it
Direct, two-footed and clutch — the team’s creative and emotional leader and captain. Scored the winning goal in Saudi Arabia’s stunning 2-1 defeat of Argentina at the 2022 World Cup.
Experienced and commanding. Against elite attacks, his form could decide whether Saudi stay competitive. Long-serving Saudi Pro League stalwart.
Mobile, powerful centre-forward — the focal point of attack and a key goal source. A regular scorer in the Saudi Pro League.
Aggressive, vocal organiser who leads a back line that must withstand pressure. A fixture of the Green Falcons’ spine for years.
Calm, deep-lying playmaker who dictates tempo and shields the defence. A long-time Al Hilal and national-team leader.
Energetic and willing to attack; provides width and balance. Gained European exposure before recent regional competition.
Breakout Player
Musab Al-Juwayr — a younger midfield option with growing domestic minutes and youth-international pedigree. A standout cameo or starting role under the new coach could announce him as the next face of Saudi football.
Most Underrated Player
Salman Al-Faraj — the quiet metronome rarely grabs headlines, but his game management and ball circulation are what allow Saudi Arabia’s flair players to function — and what they will lean on most against superior opposition.
Compact defensive block, disciplined shape, reliance on transitions and set pieces.
Historically organised and counter-attacking, Saudi Arabia under Renard pressed selectively and broke quickly through Al-Dawsari. With Donis — a coach steeped in the Saudi Pro League — the system may shift, but expect a compact defensive block, disciplined shape, and reliance on transitions and set pieces. Squad cohesion built at club level (especially the Al Hilal core) is a genuine asset.
By the numbers
Attack: Al-Dawsari is a difference-maker; depth behind him is questionable. Midfield: Experienced and tidy, if not spectacular. Defense: Organised, but vulnerable against the very best.
Goalkeeping: Al-Owais is dependable. Depth: Heavy reliance on a domestic-league core. Experience: Seventh World Cup, with several seasoned internationals. Capable of a famous result, but the coaching upheaval clouds their ceiling.
A lineage of seven tournaments — with one immortal moment.
Saudi Arabia debuted at the 1994 World Cup in the United States and immediately made their mark, reaching the Round of 16 — still their best finish — after beating Morocco and Belgium before losing 3-1 to Sweden. The 2026 tournament is their seventh appearance. Their most celebrated modern moment came in 2022, when they shocked eventual champions Argentina 2-1 in the group stage, with Salem Al-Dawsari scoring the winner.
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1994
World Cup debut — Round of 16
Debuted in the United States and immediately reached the Round of 16 — still their best finish — beating Morocco and Belgium before losing 3-1 to Sweden.
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2022
The Argentina upset
Shocked eventual champions Argentina 2-1 in the group stage, with Salem Al-Dawsari scoring the famous winner — one of the greatest upsets in World Cup history.
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2026
A seventh appearance
Return to the World Cup for a seventh time, in Group H with Spain, Uruguay and Cape Verde.
From 1994 to 2026 — and one immortal winner.
Saudi Arabia’s 2-1 win over Argentina in 2022 is one of the greatest upsets in World Cup history
Saudi Arabia’s 2-1 win over Argentina in 2022 is one of the greatest upsets in World Cup history.
Their best-ever finish came at the 1994 edition — also hosted in the United States
Their best-ever finish, the 1994 Round of 16, also came in the United States — a host of the 2026 edition.
Salem Al-Dawsari scored that famous 2022 winner against the eventual world champions
Salem Al-Dawsari scored that famous 2022 winner against the eventual world champions.
The federation sacked Hervé Renard in April 2026, just weeks before the tournament
The federation sacked Hervé Renard in April 2026, just weeks before the tournament.
New coach Georgios Donis is a former Greek international who has managed several Saudi Pro League clubs
New coach Georgios Donis is a former Greek international who has managed several Saudi Pro League clubs.
The squad’s spine is heavily drawn from Riyadh giants Al Hilal
The squad’s spine is heavily drawn from Riyadh giants Al Hilal.
The nickname “Green Falcons” reflects the national flag’s colour and the falcon’s cultural significance
The nickname “Green Falcons” reflects the national flag’s colour and the falcon’s cultural significance.
Four reasons to follow the Green Falcons
- The 2022 Argentina giant-killers — can they spring another shock?
- Genuine intrigue around a brand-new coach parachuted in weeks before kickoff.
- Salem Al-Dawsari — a proven World Cup hero, on the big stage again.
- A window into the rapidly rising profile of Saudi football.
Group-stage exit most likely — but a knockout berth is achievable under the expanded format.
Group H is brutal, and the late coaching change is a significant complication. Saudi Arabia most likely battle for second or third place behind Spain, with the Uruguay fixture potentially decisive. A knockout berth is achievable under the expanded format but far from guaranteed; a group exit is the more probable outcome. (Speculative — for entertainment only.)
