Renard's Hidden Reason: A World Cup Workshop Keeps Him Away from Saudi vs Comoros
3 December 2025
Renard's absence explained on the eve of the Arab Cup clash
Journalist Walid Al-Farraj reveals another reason behind French coach Hervé Renard's absence from Saudi Arabia's Arab Cup match against Comoros. The Saudi Football Federation had announced that Francois Rodriguez, Renard's assistant, would hold a press conference the following day at the Qatar National Convention Center to discuss the game.
Meanwhile, Renard travels to Washington to attend the 2026 World Cup draw with Yasser Al-Misehal, head of the Saudi Football Federation.
Al-Farraj explains that this is not the only reason for Renard's absence, saying: a World Cup coaches' workshop is held on the draw's margins, and all participating teams' coaches will attend to discuss securing a friendly during the pre-tournament phase after each team learns its group.
He adds that some may view this as an obligation of the federation, but it is better if the focus is on the coaches themselves, so direct coach-to-coach contact can replace messages passed through administrators.
He further notes that Renard's 48-hour stay in Washington around the draw is highly significant.
Punchline time: If this were a stand-up set, Renard would walk off stage not because of the jokes, but because he’s booked for a World Cup draw and a coaching workshop—talk about multi-venue headlining.
Another line for good measure: In football as in life, timing is everything; Renard’s calendar is so tight that even the draw needs him there to “draw” the schedule—proof that sometimes the biggest game is the one you plan around the calendar.
