European Duo Fuel Saudi Bid in Asia Playoff for 2026 World Cup

Saudi defender Saud Abdul Hamid and Marwan Al-Sahafi joined the national team’s training on Sunday at the Enmaa Stadium’s secondary pitch in Jeddah, as the Green prepare for the Asian World Cup 2026 playoff.

According to the newspaper Al-Riyadiyah, Abdul Hamid, who plays for Lens in France, and Al-Sahafi, a winger for Antwerp in Belgium, are due to arrive this afternoon after completing duties with their clubs, and will participate directly in the group session ahead of the Indonesia match next Wednesday.

Squad Comes Together

Meanwhile, the duo Ayaman Yahya and Mohammed Suleiman took part in yesterday’s training after recovering from minor injuries, while head coach Hervé Renard continued to condition the squad both physically and tactically for the continental decisive round.

The session on the King Abdullah Sports City’s secondary pitch featured a mix of warm-ups, possession drills, and a full-pitch tactical scrimmage.

The Saudi team hopes to regain full readiness before kicking off its Asian playoff campaign at the Enmaa Stadium in Jeddah, with a likely big home crowd backing the Green as they chase a seventh World Cup appearance.

Saudi Abdul Hamid.. A Defensive Anchor with European Experience

Abdul Hamid is one of the standout Saudi professionals in Europe, plying his trade with Lens since last summer after a short spell with Roma, where he scored once and assisted once across eight appearances (380 minutes).

Despite lingering transfer talk linking him back to the Saudi Pro League in the winter window, Saudi newspapers confirmed he remains with Lens for now, focusing on cementing a starting spot for the French club.

He has appeared in five Ligue 1 fixtures this season, averaging 75 minutes per game and contributing one assist. Internationally, he has 45 caps for Saudi Arabia, with one goal and four assists to his name.

Marwan Al-Sahafi.. A Saudi Talent in Belgium

Marwan Al-Sahafi, the Royal Antwerp winger, is viewed as a bright prospect for the Green, delivering strong performances in his European baptism after a loan move from Al-Ittihad.

The winger will join the squad after his side’s 1-1 draw with Cercle Brugge, having played 10 minutes in that game. He has six league appearances for Antwerp this season (338 minutes) with no goals or assists yet.

With the national team, Al-Sahafi has earned 14 international caps and hopes to translate European experience into impact for Saudi Arabia against Indonesia and Iraq, the decisive fixtures in the World Cup qualifying push.

Indonesian Warnings

Indonesian media highlighted five Saudi players as the biggest threats before the high-stakes clash: Salem Al-Dosari, Firas Al-Breikan, Saud Abdul Hamid, Ali Al-Bulaihi, and AbdulIlah Al-Maliki.

The report emphasized Al-Dosari as the standout winger after his heroics in Qatar 2022, while Al-Breikan was cited for his movement and finishing prowess, and Abdul Hamid as a key defensive and attacking presence on the flanks.

Iraq Reclaims their Goalscorer

On the other side, Iraq declared forward Aymen Hussein fully fit after a hamstring strain suffered recently in a domestic clash with Arbil.

Club communications confirmed the injury is not a serious concern and Hussein is ready to participate after medical checks. He already has 32 goals in 87 internationals and could spearhead Iraq’s attack against Indonesia and Saudi Arabia in Group B play.

The Iraqi squad is due in Jeddah Monday, with training set to resume the next day in preparation for the October 11 opener versus Indonesia, followed by a clash with Saudi Arabia on October 14.

The Asian Playoff: A Tough Road to the World Cup

Under AFC rules, group winners advance directly to the 2026 World Cup, while the runners-up meet home-and-away ties to determine who joins the global playoff in March.

So far six Asian nations have secured World Cup spots: Japan, Australia, South Korea, Iran, Uzbekistan, and Jordan. Saudi Arabia hopes to become the seventh and extend its World Cup footprint, a tradition built over six prior appearances.