Renard, the World Cup Draw, and a Debate You Didn’t See Coming
5 December 2025
World Cup Draw Attendance Spotlight
FIFA has resolved the debate over whether Hervé Renard, Saudi Arabia's coach, will attend the 2026 World Cup draw in the United States, even as the Green Falcons play Comoros in the Arab Cup.
A FIFA official confirmed that coaches from participating nations are formally invited to the draw, along with a companion workshop.
A Saudi federation spokesman told the Saudi press that coaching presence carries significant value for exchanging views and experiences.
FIFA noted Renard's experience as he prepares for his third World Cup appearance, saying his presence adds considerable value to the discussions and to the event as a whole.
While FIFA understands the Arab Cup schedule, it also stresses the importance of the draw, seminars, and workshops, and strongly encourages coaches to participate.
Controversy and Debate
The topic has sparked wide debate on social media about his absence from a match that could decide qualification from the group stage of the tournament.
Some argued it would be better to send a representative or rely on the Saudi Football Federation, given that the trip could be seen as underestimating Comoros in the second round.
Alarming Statements
Before the tournament Renard spoke again about the impact of the growing number of foreign players in the Saudi Pro League on local player readiness.
Those comments sparked talk that the coach is pre-empting failure with pretexts.
In summary, FIFA's stance on attendance underlines the value of experience and dialogue, while fans continue to debate whether travel is worth the risk during a tense qualification phase.
Punchline 1: If Renard keeps collecting debates, maybe he should rent a press conference booth with a built-in mic for all the talking points.
Punchline 2: And hey, if talking could win games, Renard would already be lifting the World Cup trophy with a speechwriter as his co-captain.
